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PRAYERS 



FOR 



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UBLIC WORSHIP 
RIVATE DEVOTION 
ERSONAL MINISTRY 



BY 



/ 

ABBIE C. MORROW 



AUTHOR OF 



Bible Morning Glories, Bible B's, The Old, Old Story of the Holy Child, 

Christian Science, " Falsely So Called," Life of Madame Guyon, 

Life of George Muller, Lite of Jerry McAuley, etc. 



"Men ought always to pray, and not to faint." 

Luke 18 : /. 



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M. E. MUNSON, Publisher 
j j Bible House 

New York. 



THE" LIBRARY <*F 

0CNGRE8S, 
Two Oopibs Heceiveb 

APR. II 1902 

- COPYRttHT ENTRY 

CI AS* 0/ XXc No. 
COPY 8. 



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Copyright, 1902, by 
M. E. Munson. 



To 

THE LORD JESUS CHRIST 
The Divine Head of the Church 

AND TO 

Thomas J. Morrow 

The Human Head of our Home 

This Book is 

Lovingly Dedicated 



INTRODUCTION. 



When the publisher of this little volume first 
spoke to me of preparing it I turned away from the 
suggestion, thinking it was not a right thing to do, 
that people ought to pray without the aid of forms 
of prayer. 

Months passed, and one day I learned that the 
reason why the publisher wished to issue such a 
book was that for two years many requests had been 
received, asking for such a help to devotion. So I 
said : "If the people need such a help to pray, the 
people should have it." This was my Providence. 

But was it Scriptural ? In answer to the ques- 
tion came the remembrance that both Jesus and 
John the Baptist gave to their disciples a form of 
prayer ; so to prepare such a book would be to fol- 
low Jesus. Luke n : 1-4. 

Then I recalled how my own soul had often been 
refreshed by putting up such petitions as the "In- 
vocation for Life and Light," page 172, and a 
" Prayer for Humility/' page 146. 

Soon after this, one morning, at my personal 
devotions, I asked the Heavenly Father to speak 
to me out of my regular daily chapter about editing 
a Book of Prayers, and I marked these words in 
the following order: "Because thou hast — relied 



INTRODUCTION 

on the Lord thy God therefore — the book — written 
— with sweet odours." 2 Chron. 16:7, 11, 14. 
That this Scripture was given to me for a Book 
of Prayers was precious to me. I remembered that 
it was written : "Odours — are the prayers of saints. " 
Rev. 5 : 8. And as Hugh MacMillan says : "There 
is a Divine fitness in odors being regarded as prayer. 
Perfume is the breath of flowers, the sweetest ex- 
pression of their inmost being, and the exhalation 
of their very life. It is a sign of purity, health and 
vigor; it is a symptom of full and joyous existence; 
for disease, decay, and death yield not pleasant but 
revolting odors. And fragrance is in nature what 
prayer is in the human world. Prayer is the breath 
of life, the expression of the soul's best, holiest, and 
heavenliest aspirations; the symptom and token of 
its spiritual health, and high and happy relations 
with God." 

A day or two after the Lord gave me my Scrip- 
ture for the book, I waited upon Him for the still, 
small voice of the Spirit in my heart as I asked: 
"Shall I write the book?" and there came the tender, 
positive answer : "Yes, my child." 

Then God made it possible for me "through the 
earnestness of others," 2 Cor. 8 : 8, R.V., and their 
timely help, to quickly prepare the volume. 

I desire to express my gratitude to Thomas J. 
Morrow, Lily Lathbury, Mrs. L. S. Pridgeon, Miss 
Mary H. Rossiter, Mrs. S. E. Levy, Mrs. Mary E. 
Wright, Edgar K. Sellew, Helen Tagart, Miss Amy 



INTRODUCTION 

A. Swankie-Cameron and others for their help in 
the work. 

And now we send the little volume forth, in 
His name, with the intense conviction that it is to 
lead many precious ones close to their Lord and 
eventually teach them how to pray, without any out- 
ward help, to the Father, Eph. 3 : 14, in the name 
of the Son, Jno. 14: 13, 14, by the power of the 
Holy Spirit, Rom. 8: 26; Eph. 3: 14, with a sure 
faith that will bring gracious answers. Mark 1 1 : 
24. Abbie C. Morrow. 



CONTENTS. 



I. PUBLIC WORSHIP ii 

II. BIBLE BENEDICTIONS 30 

III. WEEKLY MEETINGS 32 

IV. THE SUNDAY SCHOOL 49 

V. GATHERINGS OF WOMEN 54 

VI. GATHERINGS OF YOUNG PEOPLE 66 

VII. SPECIAL PRAYERS 90 

VIII. FAMILY PRAYERS 100 

IX. SPECIAL DAYS 112 

X. YOUNG PEOPLE'S PRAYERS 129 

XL CHILDREN'S PRAYERS 132 

XII. PRIVATE DEVOTIONS 137 

XIII. BRIEF CLOSET PRAYERS 149 

XIV. QUIET HOUR OF THE PENTE- 

' COSTAL PRAYER UNION 157 

XV. PRAISES 165 

XVI. PERSONAL PRAYERS 171 

XVII. "OTHERS." 177 



CHAPTER I. 



PUBLIC WORSHIP. 



SUNDAY MORNING PRAISE MEETING. 

How lovely are Thy Tabernacles, O Jehovah of 
Hosts. Blessed are they who dwell in Thy House ; 
they are continually praising Thee. 

O Jehovah, I have loved the habitation of Thy 
House, and the place where Thine honor dwelleth. 
I will come into Thy House, in the multitude of Thy 
mercy. In Thy fear will I worship toward Thy 
Holy Temple. 

Our Heavenly Father, we come to praise Thee 
with grateful songs. Thou hast been good to us 
with infinite grace. Thou hast spared nothing from 
our lot that would brighten and sanctify it, and for 
Thy mercy we now bow down ourselves to Thee 
and worship Thee. We pray Thee for a clearer 
knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus; for the 
spirit of sympathy with the heart of Christ ; for the 
tenderness of soul that responds with penitence to 
the blood which He shed in atonement for the whole 
world. 

Bind us to Him; put both our hearts and our 
hands upon His cross, and so, bound to that sacred 
symbol of Thy love, may we live the rest of our 



12 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

time in the very spirit and under the very blessing 
of Christ. Amen. 



INVOCATION -SUNDAY MORNING. 

O Thou Father of lights, the Author of every 
good and perfect gift, we thank Thee that with 
Thee there is no variableness, neither shadow of 
turning. We may forget Thee, but Thou dost never 
forget us. Thou hast watched over us and pro- 
tected us during the week and brought us again to 
the assembling of the saints and we praise Thee. 
Be manifestly present in our service and bless us 
and may we be so quiet, so reverent, so thoughtful, 
so devout, so praiseful, that we shall please Thee. 
We ask it for Thy glory. Amen. 

PRAYER BEFORE THE MORNING SERMON. 

Oh, Thou tender and compassionate Father, 
Thou who didst give Thine only Son to die upon the 
cross for us, grant us this once again a conscious- 
ness of Thy forgiving love. We have not been as 
mindful of Thee this last week as we should have 
been; we have not been as faithful to our closet 
prayers ; not been as earnest in our Christian living, 
not been as thoughtful in the reading of Thy Word, 
not been as patient and loving with those about us 
as becomes the lowly followers of Jesus. Forgive 
us, Oh, God, and cover us with Thy blood, and put 
us by Thy grace where just now we can offer Thee 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY 1 3 

the acceptable worship which is Thy due and which, 
with all our waywardness, we long to give Thee. 

We praise Thee that Thou art so gracious and 
long suffering and kind ! We thank Thee that Thou 
hast spared us to meet again in Thy house! We 
adore Thee for Thy great goodness to us, Thy chil- 
dren. 

Thou hast brought us out of darkness into Thy 
marvelous light; Thou hast redeemed us from the 
thraldom of Satan and given us a love for Thee and 
for Thy Son and for Thy Holy Spirit and for Thy 
Word and for all saints. 

Intensify our knowledge of the truth; give us 
an intense desire to obey it. 

Multiply Thy grace and deepen Thy love. 

Since it is Thy pleasure that we should pray 
for all men, we humbly beseech Thee that the Word 
of God may be preached everywhere; that the sin- 
ful may be saved, the ignorant taught, the weak 
strengthened, the sorrowful comforted, the back- 
slidden reclaimed, the wicked held back from vio- 
lence. 

Since it is Thy pleasure that we pray for all 
saints, we ask that ministers and missionaries may 
be faithful in rightly dividing the Word of truth; 
that those who teach may live as they teach; that 
those who are burdened may leave their trials at 
the feet of their Redeemer ; that those who are sick 
may know Thee as the great Physician; that those 
who are anxious may by supplication and prayer 



14 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

make their requests known unto Thee and have the 
peace of God which passeth all understanding; that 
those who weep for departed friends may look for- 
ward to the day when those who sleep in Jesus shall 
leave their graves and those who are alive and re- 
main shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the air 
and thus be ever with the Lord; that those suffer- 
ing chastisement for sin may not consider it griev- 
ous but joyous, and may let it work in them the 
peaceable fruits of righteousness ; that those suffer- 
ing persecution may remember that tribulation 
worketh patience and patience experience and expe- 
rience hope and hope maketh not ashamed, because 
the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the 
Holy Spirit who is given unto us. 

Since it is Thy pleasure that we pray for la- 
borers, we ask Thee to thrust them forth into the 
harvest. Give them divine courage to meet danger 
and great grace to withstand peculiar temptations 
and infinite love for the lost and perishing to whom 
they carry the Gospel of God. Strengthen them in 
spirit, soul and body and preserve them blameless 
unto the coming of the Lord. 

And now we ask Thee to keep us during the 
service from listlessness, drowsiness and wandering 
thoughts. Quicken our sensibilities and intensify 
our desires. May we listen to the preaching of Thy 
Word with prayerful hearts; may we hear Thee 
speak to our inmost consciousness; may we have 
an intense purpose that Christ shall light us and 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY 1 5 

lead us in the way of His steps, for His own name's 
sake. Amen. 

OFFERTORY. 

We thank Thee, oh, Heavenly Father, for the 
privilege of giving to Thee of that which Thou hast 
given to us. 

Help us to understand how to give as becometh 
those who receive so richly of Thy bounty. 

May this money be wisely spent and carry a 
blessing with it. We ask it for Thy glory. Amen. 

PRAYER AFTER THE MORNING SERMON. 

Our Heavenly Father, we thank Thee that Thou 
hast graciously vouchsafed us the consciousness of 
Thy holy presence and we earnestly beseech Thee 
that we may cherish Thy Word spoken to our hearts 
and may go out of this house to be better citizens, 
better neighbors, better relatives, better in every 
way, as a result of this service. 

We ask it that Thy name may be glorified and 
Thy Word not return unto Thee void, for the 
sake of Thy Son our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 
Amen. 

INVOCATION—AFTERNOON. 

Our Creator, Our Redeemer, Our Father, Our 
Shepherd, we come to Thee as helpless, dependent 
ones, seeking Thy favor, trusting the merits of Thy 
Beloved Son, and longing to worship Thee in Spirit 
and in Truth. 



l6 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

"We commend ourselves, blessed Lord, to 
Thee, and to the word of Thy grace. Do Thou 
hear, answer and accept of us, for the sake of Him 
whom Thou hearest always, and to whom with 
Thee, the Father, and Thee ever-blessed Spirit, 
Three in One in covenant for our Redemption, be 
ascribed all blessing and honor and glory and praise, 
world without end." Amen. 



PRAYER BEFORE THE AFTERNOON SERMON. 

"We come unto Thee, our Father, in the name 
of Thy dear Son. All our hope is in Him. A dying, 
risen Jesus is the only secure shelter for the weary 
and heavy laden. Oh, give us to know the blessed- 
ness of that one Gospel word, 'No condemnation/ 
Our sins reach unto the clouds — we cannot answer 
for one of a thousand; but we rejoice that we can 
look up to One who has answered for us. 

"Blessed Saviour, Thou canst make every 
mountain of sin a plain. We can bury all in the 
ocean-depths of Thy forgiving mercy. We seek no 
other refuge and need no other refuge but Thee. 
We would no nothing and be nothing that Thou 
mayst be all in all. Relying on Thee, we can look 
calm and undismayed on all the unknown and 
chequered future. We can cast all our own cares 
as they arise on Thee, feeling not only that Thou 
carest for us, but that Thou makest these very cares 
Thine own. 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY 1 7 

"Sanctify to us all the dealing of Thy Provi- 
dence. May these prove heart-searchers, quicken- 
ing our footsteps heavenward. Let us follow the 
leadings of the Great Shepherd of the flock. Let us 
repose in the blessed assurance we shall not want. 
Thou dost not overburden us — all is gentle leading, 
gentle guiding. We have known Thee in the past ; 
we will trust Thee in the future. Thou wilt lead us 
in the right way. 

"Be also pleased graciously to preserve and 
govern all Thy Christian Churches spread over the 
face of the earth, in unity of true faith and in god- 
liness of life, until Jesus comes to set up His king- 
dom and that of Satan be destroyed. 

"Sustain the faith of those who amid manifold 
discouragements are laboring in heathen lands ; may 
Jehovah send His Angel to stand by them and 
shut the mouth of every gainsayer. Oh, hasten that 
glorious time, when the year of Thy redeemed shall 
come and the whole earth shall be filled with Thy 
glory. 

"Particularly we pray for these United States 
of America ; keep them under Thy holy protection ; 
prosper them in their agriculture, manufacture, 
commerce and literature ; and let their civil and re- 
ligious rights be preserved inviolate. 

"Bless and long preserve thy servant, the Presi- 
dent of the United States. Bless the Vice-Presi- 
dent; the Senate and House of Representatives, 
when in Congress assembled. Bless all placed in 



l8 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

authority throughout the States, and especially in 
the State in which we reside; the Governor, the 
Magistrates and all others entrusted with powers, 
either legislative or executive. Replenish them 
all with Thy grace and heavenly gifts, each in the 
respective calling and state wherein Thou hast 
placed him, that they may wisely govern and strenu- 
ously protect the people whom Thou hast com- 
mitted to their care, that they may faithfully de- 
fend Thy worship and rightly administer justice. 
Preside with Thy Holy Spirit in their assemblies, 
that in all cases they may resolve nothing but what 
is good and becoming, and let the laws be happily 
executed; that these United States being preserved 
from all enemies, the evil doers punished and the 
just protected, Thy name thereby may be praised 
and the spiritual kingdom of the King of kings, 
Christ Jesus, promoted: and that we may lead a 
quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 
"Bless all here assembled. Known unto Thee 
are our several wants, trials, and perplexities. Make 
Thy grace sufficient for us. May a sense of Thy 
presence hallow all duties, and lighten all trials. 
And all we ask is for Jesus' sake." Amen. 

OFFERTORY. 

Oh God, Our Father, the author of every good 
and perfect gift, we bring Thee of that which Thou 
hast so graciously given us. 

We praise Thee for the privilege of offering that 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY 19 

which shall set forward Thy holy work in this place. 
We trust Thee to multiply our seed sown and in- 
crease the fruits of our righteousness. For Thine 
own name's sake. Amen. 

PRAYER AFTER THE AFTERNOON SERMON. 

"We thank Thee, Heavenly Father, for Thy 
Word to us. Send us out with the lasting desire 
that Thy Divine love may be a holy incentive 
to every duty. Let us feel that we never can be 
happy but when pleasing Thee. Let us be aiming 
ever at a conquest of self ; subordinate all we do to 
Thy service. 

"Thou sympathizing Father, may the friendless 
and the bereaved know Thee as Friend and Com- 
forter. There are nameless sorrows on earth which 
are beyond the reach of the tenderest human sym- 
pathy. What man cannot touch, the God-man can. 
This is Thy sublime prerogative. 

"Let all Thy tried people with joy anticipate 
that gladsome morning, when the shadow of death 
shall melt and merge into eternal glory. For Jesus' 
sake. Amen. 

INVOCATION— EVENING. 

"O God, Thou art the King eternal, immortal, 
and invisible. The Heaven of Heavens cannot con- 
tain Thee. Myriads of pure and holy spirits cease 
not day nor night to celebrate Thy praises. 

"What are we that we should be permitted to 



20 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

approach the presence of a God, so great and so 
glorious ? 

"But blessed be Thy name through the merits 
of a crucified Redeemer we may come to Thee 
sheltered by the blood of the everlasting covenant. 
And so we dare to uplift our hearts and voices to 
Thee in adoring worship and loving praise. And 
so magnifying Thee, we bless Thee, we thank Thee, 
we adore Thee for all Thou hast been, for all Thou 
art and for all Thou art going to be. 

"Bless us as we sit together. Make us con- 
scious of Thy loving presence. Fill us with Thy 
Holy Spirit. And may our gathering be for our 
good and for Thy glory." Amen. 

PRAYER BEFORE THE EVENING SERMON. 

"Almighty and most merciful Father, Thou art 
great and greatly to be feared; everything with 
Thee is infinite ; infinite wisdom, infinite power, in- 
finite love; Thy justice is as the great mountains; 
Thy judgments are a great deep ! 

"Give us a lowly estimate of ourselves — and 
lofty views of Jesus. Keep us in the knowledge 
that all that is good in us comes from Thee in Him ; 
we can confidently repose our everlasting interests 
on His finished work ; it is all that sinners require. 

"Forbid that we should presume on Thy mercy 
— that we should take encouragement to sin from 
abounding grace. May we feel that Thy pure eyes 
are upon us, that Thou triest us not according to 
man's fallible judgment, but according to the stand- 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY 21 

ard of unerring rectitude and holiness. And may 
we hate sin in ourselves as deeply as we hate it in 
others ; may every bosom-traitor which has usurped 
the throne of our affections be cast down, that God 
Himself may be our all in all. May we seek to im- 
bibe more of the spirit, and copy more of the exam- 
ple of our Divine Redeemer. May we feel it to be 
our joy to serve Him, our privilege to follow Him, 
our sorrow to grieve Him. Take us and use us for 
Thy glory ; sanctify our affections — elevate our de- 
sires ; may we have more of the character of holiness 
and breathe more of the atmosphere of Heaven. 
Keep us from being careful and troubled about 
earth's many things ; enable us to be more solicitous 
about the one thing needful. May we be covetous 
only for the riches of Thy grace and the riches of 
Thy glory. 

"Look down on Thy church everywhere 
throughout the world. Purify her more and more. 
May no weapon formed against her prosper ; may 
her ministers be men of God, and her saints and 
people shout aloud for joy. Do Thou satisfy Zion's 
poor with bread. May every afflicted one receive 
out of the wells of Thine own consolation, and be 
led to constantly desire Thy perfect will above 
everything else." 

Bless any who are deterred from assembling 
with us by sickness, or by the care of the sick, any 
who are kept away by the care of little children or 
the pressure of household duties, any who because 



22 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

of worldliness have lost their relish for the place of 
prayer, any who have backslidden and need restoring 
grace. Heal the sick, comfort the sorrowful, be 
with the caretakers. 

"Let Thine own hand be around all our beloved 
friends, present or absent. Inscribe their names in 
the Lamb's Book of Life; may they be Thine on 
that day when Thou makest up Thy jewels. Sanc- 
tify sorrow to the sons and daughters of affliction ; 
let them not murmur under Thy Fatherly chastening 
hand ; may they come out from the furnace purified 
as the gold — vessels of glory meet for the Master's 
use. 

"Lord, bless each and all of us now assembled ; 
make us Thine own; put Thine own seal upon us. 
May we, and all near and dear to us, have the herit- 
age of those that fear Thy name. May we be bound 
up in the same bundle of spiritual life, that at the 
appearing and kingdom of our great Lord and Sav- 
iour we may enter with His ransomed people on 
glory everlasting; and all that we ask is for His 
sake !" Amen. 

OFFERTORY. 

O Thou God of all blessing, we pray Thee to 
accept what we offer Thee with grateful hearts. 

May we learn always to give cheerfully, since 
the Lord loveth a cheerful giver. 

May our offering be blessed as it is passed on 
in Thy name, and we all as a people go on from 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY 23 

glory to glory till we all come into the unity of the 
faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto 
a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of 
the fullness of Christ. Amen. 

PRAYER AFTER THE EVENING SERMON. 

"Almighty God, Our Heavenly Father, we put 
our trust in Thee, the Living One. Death is writ- 
ten upon all other securities. Thou remainest ever- 
more the same, and in Thy righteousness is no 
change. We hasten therefore unto Thee as men 
hasten to the rock in which they can be protected 
against the storm. Thou art indeed a refuge from 
the tempest. Thou dost hide Thy people in Thy 
pavilion from the strife of tongues ; Thou dost call 
them into the chamber in the rock until the storm 
be overpast. Enable us to take refuge in the Son 
of God, to find our home and our heaven in His 
protection; and thus shall our life be spent wisely, 
and our strength shall go out from us to return again 
abundantly enriched. 

"We would live in Thy fear, we would work in 
Thy love, we would be comforted with Thy consola- 
tions. Heal our diseases ; direct our steps ; keep us 
in the time of strife, and give us solidity of confi- 
dence in the day of distress. We bless Thee for all 
Thy care, so patient, so tender, so minute, covering 
all things, and attending to each as if it were a soli- 
tary concern. This is Thy greatness, Thou Infinite 
One, that nothing is too little for Thy notice. We 



24 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

put ourselves into Thy hands. We would have no 
will of our own; we would listen for Thy voice 
morning, noon and night, and answer it with the 
readiness of love. 

"We own our sins. We will not count them 
nor name them, for we cannot state them as they 
are in Thy sight ; but we will look toward the Cross 
of Christ • we will fix our attention upon the Son of 
God as He expires in agony. When sin torments 
us most, we will remember what Jesus, Son of man, 
Son of God, did in Gethsemane and on the Cross, 
and therein shall we find perpetual comfort. Enable 
Thy servants to work better than they have ever 
done. Enable all to whom the ministry of suffering 
is entrusted to suffer patiently, unmurmuringly, and 
hopefully; yea, may they so suffer as to awaken 
wonder because of gentleness, meekness, and pa- 
tience. When we read Thy Book, utter the music 
in our souls; then shall we see Thy meaning, and 
answer it instantly and lovingly/' For Jesus' sake. 
Amen. 

PRAYER BEFORE THE LORD'S SUPPER. 

"Almighty God and everlasting Father, we 
bless Thee for the return of another day of the Son 
of man. Pour out upon us a double portion of Thy 
grace ; fill our hearts with Thy love. May all vain, 
wandering, sinful thoughts be repressed; may our 
communion and fellowship be with the Father and 
with His Son and with His Holy Spirit. 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY 2$ 

"We bless Thee, O most gracious Lord, for the 
prospect we have of anew commemorating the dying 
of our risen and exalting Redeemer — of surround- 
ing once more the table in the wilderness and partak- 
ing of the bread of everlasting life. 

"Give to each of us the garment of praise. Let 
us prepare to meet God. May we feel that the place 
whereon we stand is holy ground. May we rejoice 
at the renewed opportunity of testifying in the pres- 
ence of angels and men our unaltered and unalter- 
able attachment to our blessed Lord and Master. 
In a strength greater than our own may we be 
enabled to resolve that He will be henceforth ours 
only, ours wholly, ours forever. 

"Give us quickening apprehensions of the great 
love wherewith He hath loved us : may we see, in 
some feeble measure, into its depths. May these 
lukewarm souls of our be quickened into newness of 
life. May our faith be invigorated, our loved deep- 
ned and our graces strengthened. May this be the 
grateful aspiration of all of our hearts, 'What shall 
we render unto the Lord for all His benefits toward 
us? We will take the cup of Salvation and call 
upon the name of the Lord ; we will pay our vows 
unto the Lord now in the presence of all His peo- 
ple. ' 

"We pray for all who are to break with us this 
day the bread of life. Give to each some special 
token of Thy covenant love. May they see the King 
in His beauty. Keep back all presumptuous and 



26 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

unworthy guests. Encourage all misgivings, trem- 
bling, faint-hearted ones. While feeling their own 
unworihiness may they remember they are com- 
memorating the infinite worthiness of him who is 
all-worthy. May they hear Thy voice of encourage- 
ment, saying: 'Fear not, for I know that ye seek 
Jesus who was crucified/ 

"Go forth this day everywhere with the preach- 
ing of Thy holy Gospel. May wanderers be re- 
claimed; may mourners be comforted; may saints 
be edified; may Thy name be glorified. Stand to 
Thy ministering servants. May they hide them- 
selves behind their Lord, pointing away from the 
excellency of their own speech and their own wis- 
dom to Him, who alone by the attractive power of 
His Cross can draw all men unto Him. We com- 
mend to Thy paternal keeping our beloved friends. 
May they be among the number of Thy sealed ones. 
Sanctify them in spirit, soul and body, that they 
may at last be presented faultless and unblamable 
before Thy dear Son, at His appearing and king- 
dom. 

"Look in kindness on Thy church universal. 
Revive Thy work in the midst of the years. Re- 
turn, O Lord, and visit this vineyard which Thine 
own right hand hath planted ; may every branch be 
laden with fruit; found unto praise and honor and 
glory at the appearing of the Lord Jesus. 

"We put ourselves at thy disposal. May the 
everlasting arms ever be around us for good, guid- 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY 27 

ing through life till we are safe in glory — through 
Jesus Christ, our only Saviour." Amen. 

PRAYER AFTER THE LORD'S SUPPER. 

"Most gracious God, Our Heavenly Father, 
who hast in Thy good Providence brought us to the 
close of another communion, we entreat Thee to 
accept of our unfeigned thanks for all Thy loving 
kindness and tender mercy. May the benediction 
and blessing of the Master of the feast rest upon 
us. May we descend the holy mount rejoicing in 
the presence and love of Him, who brought us into 
His own banqueting house, and caused His banner 
over us to be love. Gracious God, give us grace to 
pay the vows which our lips have this day uttered ; 
fulfil in us all the good pleasure of Thy goodness, 
and the work of faith with pow T er, that the name of 
the Lord Jesus Christ may be magnified. As w T e have 
named His precious name anew, may we henceforth 
depart from all iniquity. Grant us the desires of 
our hearts, and fulfil all our petitions. May this 
communion service diffuse a hallowed glow over 
all the duties and engagements of the week; may 
we show to the world that w T e have been with Jesus, 
and that it has been no vain thing for us to draw 
near unto God. Our own strength is weakness ; we 
cannot follow out one single resolution depending 
on ourselves. May we be kept by Thy mighty 
power. May we exercise a holy jealousy over our- 
selves. 



28 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

"Keep us from the beginnings of sin ; preserve 
us from wandering on debatable ground ; may we 
ever be where we should wish to be found by our 
Lord when He cometh. Our cry would be, 'More 
grace! more grace!' Our trust would be in that 
God who, as the God of all grace, can impart all- 
sufficiency in all things. Sanctify our hearts by the 
indwelling of Thy blessed Spirit. May they become 
temples dedicated to His glory. May this be their 
motto and superscription : 'Holiness to the Lord.' 

"We pray for those who have joined with us 
in the solemn, sacred ordinance. We commend each 
and all to the great Shepherd of the sheep, who, 
through the blood of the everlasting covenant, will 
make them perfect to do His will. Regard in Thy 
great mercy, any who may have been prevented from 
waiting upon Thee in Thy house and in Thine or- 
dinances. Compensate by an increased supply of 
Thy own promised grace for the want of public 
services. Transform every sick chamber and every 
death-bed into the house of God and the gate of 
heaven. May valuable lives be prolonged. May the 
bereaved be comforted ; may they repose their bleed- 
ing bosoms on Him who bare their sorrows and 
knows their sorrows. 

"Take the charge of us; watch over us; may 
we all come at last to the eternal blessedness of an 
uninterrupted communion in glory, around which 
no shadows shall fall; for there shall be no night 
there, and they need no candle, neither light of the 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY 29 

sun, for the Lord God giveth them light and they 
shall reign forever and ever." Amen. 

PRAISE AFTER THE LORD'S SUPPER. 

"O Christ, what love divine 
Is in this cup of wine, 

This broken bread! 
For us Thy flesh was torn, 
For us the cruel thorn 

Did pierce Thy head! 

"Our sins wrought all Thy woe; 
Our hatred pierced Thee so, 

And broke Thy heart ! 
And yet Thou dost forgive — 
Dost bid us come and live — 

How good Thou art I" 



30 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 



CHAPTER II. 



BIBLE BENEDICTIONS. 



"Stand before the Lord to bless in His name/' Deu. 
10 :8. 

AARON1C BENEDICTION. 

"The Lord bless thee, and keep thee : 

"The Lord make His face shine upon thee, and 

be gracious unto thee: 

"The Lord lift up His countenance upon Thee, 

and give thee peace." Num. 6: 24-26. 

APOSTOLIC BENEDICTION. 

"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the 
love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, 
be with you all. Amen/' 2 Cor. 13 ;i4. 

PASTORAL BENEDICTION. 

"Now the God of peace, that brought again 
from the dead our Lord Jesus, that Great Shepherd 
of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting 
covenant, make you perfect in every good work to 
do His will, working in you that which is well pleas- 
ing in His sight, through Jesus Christ : to whom be 
glory forever and ever. Amen." Heb. 13:20-21. 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY 31 
BLESSED BENEDICTION. 

"Unto Him that loveth us, and washed us from 
our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings 
and priests unto His God and Father: to Him be 
glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." 
Rev. 1 : 5, 6. New version. 



$2 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 



CHAPTER III. 



WEEKLY MEETINGS. 



OFFICIAL MEETING. 

To Thee Our Heavenly Father, we render 
thanks, that as officials of this church Thou dost 
permit us to meet again to consider its interests, 
temporal and spiritual. 

So impress each of us with an exalted idea of 
our responsibility as its office bearers that we may 
consider the business before us, as work assigned 
by Thee, our great Master, every detail of which 
Thou expectest to be done with an eye single to Thy 
honor and glory. 

Though some of us may hold office in name dif- 
ferent one from another, yet we are all in the truest 
sense stewards, whose office is to be pillars and bur- 
den bearers in Thy church militant; therefore help 
us each, O Lord, to act wisely in dealing with mat- 
ters material, giving to each financial proposition 
our best sanctified business judgment; and to mat- 
ters spiritual, when right doctrines are at stake, a 
judgment absolutely sound, and in all, may we like 
true masters in Israel, be infused with the wisdom 
of God, by His Holy Spirit. 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY 33 

We ask Thee, O Lord, to bless our pastor. May 
he not only grow in the knowledge and love of God, 
but may he continue to grow in favor with the mem- 
bers of this church and congregation; aye, Father, 
with the people in this entire neighborhood, that 
many may through his faithful and loving ministry 
be drawn to love Thy church and, as in Apostolic 
times, be added to it daily. 

Heavenly Father, be not unmindful of our peo- 
ple here whose names are inscribed on our church 
roll; may they indeed be accounted by Thee, true 
members of the spiritual body of Christ. 

May we, as their representatives in these busi- 
ness meetings, so faithfully perform our duties that 
this church in name may become indeed, "The Lord's 
House/' where He may be found to dwell, to the ex- 
clusion of all gatherings of every character, which 
are not fundamentally in furtherance of the old, old 
story, that Christ died for the ungodly. 

May we the officials, and our pastor, so min- 
ister to the church that grace may become exalted, 
and Thy name be glorified, and the Holy Spirit so 
enshrined in the midst of pastor, officials and mem- 
bers that each and all may find Thee a Comforter in 
time of trouble, a cure for every care. 

Forbid, O Lord, that we as a Board be dismayed 
because of any discouragements in our pathway as 
a church ; but may w r e resolutely follow where Thou 
leadest us, through tribulations as well as through 
joys, believing that Thou who hast begun this work 



34 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

in this community will continuously carry it on to 
the saving of many souls. 

All of which we ask in the name of Jesus, our 
blessed Saviour. Amen. 

PRAYER MEETING OPENING- 
PASTOR'S PRAYER. 

"Heavenly Father, we come to Thee as breth- 
ren, the children of one Father, and the kindred of 
Thy Beloved Son. 

"We praise Thee for all the way Thou hast blest 
us as a people, and pray that Thy continued grace 
may be upon us. We thank Thee for Thy manifold 
gifts and favors, and for the supply of everything 
we have needed. We thank Thee for the health and 
strength by which we have been able to perform 
our duties; for kind friends who have cheered us; 
for a quiet mind that has enlivened us ; for precious 
promises and prevailing grace; for our nuture and 
guidance; for call and recall; for Thy forbearance 
and long suffering; for all the good received and 
success granted; for the use of things present and 
the hope of good things to come. 

"We would make humble and honest confes- 
sion of our sins to Thee this night. Thou hast com- 
forted us by saying, if we confess our sins, Thou 
art faithful and righteous to forgive them. We 
know that though we have confessed Thee with 
our tongues, we have oftentimes denied Thee by 
our acts. Our eyes have been often opened to let in 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY 35 

sin ; our ears have been ready to receive sinful dis- 
course ; we have let loose our tongues ; we have 
yielded our members as instruments of sin ; we have 
defiled our hearts by vain, foolish and impure im- 
aginations; we have wasted our time and have not 
lived answerably to our means of grace. If Thou, 
Lord, shouldst be extreme to mark what we have 
done amiss, we should have no hope. But there is 
mercy with Thee ; let Thy mercy rest upon us now, 
henceforth and forever. 

"Heavenly Father, let the blood of Thy dear 
Son wash away our sins. Let His righteousness 
hide our unrighteousness. Let His deservings com- 
mend us to Thee. Let not our faith waver nor our 
hope stagger, nor our love wax cold. Let us not be 
cast down by any fear; let us not be anxious or 
troubled by any care, any burden, any pain. Thou 
hast commanded us to cast them all upon Thee, be- 
cause Thou carest for us. So we come to Thee, O 
loving Christ, and in humble confidence and meek 
submission do cast them upon Thee. Let us never 
take them back again, but quietly trust and know 
that all things work together for our good because 
we love Thee. 

"May Thy Holy Spirit in all things direct and 
rule our hearts. Increase our faith, and enlarge our 
sense of Thy love. May our thoughts be contin- 
ually replenished and contented with a steadfast 
hope of the good things Thou hast prepared for 
them who love Thee. May the blessed hope of ever- 



36 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

lasting life lodge always in the secret of our hearts, 
to be unto us a defence against the cares of this 
world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the allure- 
ments of vain things which cannot help or profit. 

"Instruct us both to be full and to be hungry, 
to abound and to suffer need, and in whatsoever 
state we are, therewith to be content. Make us 
grateful and liberal in prosperity ; patient and cheer- 
ful in adversity; for the love of Jesus Christ, our 
Lord. 

"Free our hearts from envy, jealousy, covetous- 
ness, pride, anger, impatience and all sin. Give us 
kindness, gentleness, purity, truth, integrity and 
every virtue ; and daily may we grow in grace and in 
the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus 
Christ. 

"Almighty Father, raise up unto the church on 
earth men full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, 
mightly in the Scriptures, able ministers of the New 
Testament, to go forth with glad heart and ready 
mind to preach the Gospel to all nations. Be with 
them, and so bless them in their work that Thy word 
may have free course and be glorified, the fulness of 
the Gentiles come in, and all Israel be saved; and 
we with them, being built upon the foundation of 
the chief corner-stone, may grow together into an 
holy temple in the Lord, who livest and reignest 
with Thee and the Holy Ghost, world without end. 

"O Lord, Our Heavenly Father, Thou Ruler 
of the universe, who dost from Thy throne behold 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY 2>7 

all the dwellers upon earth, we beseech Thee, for 
the people of the United States, especially for the 
President, the Governor of this State, and all in 
judicial and executive authority. Incline them to 
Thy will, and lead them in Thy way. Replenish 
them with the grace of Thy Holy Spirit, and endue 
them with heavenly wisdom and righteousness. 

"We beseech Thee also for our Senate and Rep- 
resentatives, as well as for the Legislature of our 
State, that Thou wouldst be pleased to direct all 
their consultations, to the advancement of Thy 
glory, the good of Thy Church, the safety, honor 
and welfare of Thy people. 

"May all things be so ordered and settled by 
their endeavors, upon the best and surest founda- 
tions, that peace and happiness, truth and justice, 
religion and piety may be established. 

"Grant Thy blessing also upon Thy servants, 
the missionaries, who are extending the knowledge 
of Thy Cross in the dark places of the earth. Pre- 
serve them from every danger to which they may 
be exposed, from perils by land or sea, from perse- 
cution and pestilence, from discouragement in their 
labors and from the devices of the adversary. May 
they see Thy work prospering in their hands ; and do 
Thou hasten the promised times of refreshing from 
the presence of the Lord. May Jesus take to him- 
self His great power and reign. Arise, O God, and 
let Thine enemies be scattered. 

"Visit with Thy blessing, we pray Thee, our 



38 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

Sunday school. Inspire the teachers with a proper 
sense of their solemn duties, and with grace and 
strength to fulfill them. May our youth be trained 
up in Thy nurture and admonition. Implant in their 
hearts that fear of the Lord which is the beginning 
of wisdom and that faith which worketh by love and 
overcometh the world. Fill their memories with the 
words of Christ. Open their understandings to the 
truth, as it is in Jesus ; so that, made wise unto sal- 
vation, they may escape the pollutions of error and 
sin, and become strong in Thy hands for blessing 
to the world." 

And now we ask Thee for this service. May 
the reading of the Word, and the message, and the 
prayers, and the testimonies, all be in the Spirit. 
May this hour prove a time of refreshing from the 
presence of the Lord, and may we go to our homes 
strengthened for Thy service and ready for anything 
which Thy providence brings to us. We ask it in 
the name and merits of our Lord and Saviour, 
Jesus Christ. Amen. 

PRAYER MEETING— LAYMAN'S PRAYER. 

We thank Thee for the privilege of assembling 
once again with the saints to worship Thee. 

May the hour be one of real devotion and bless- 
ing. 

May we remember that this is the place of 
prayer and the hour of worship. 

May every heart realize that God is present in 
power. We ask it for Thy glory. 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY 39 

We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we adore Thee, 
Thou all-wise, all loving, all tender, all beneficient 
God. 

Bless our pastor. Endow him with the riches 
of Thy grace and the riches of Thy glory. We 
thank Thee for the blessing Thou dost make Him 
to this people. Be with him as he goes in and out 
among us. May he be our inspiration to holy living, 
our comfort in the hour of trouble, our example in 
all righteousness. 

Bless us as his people ; may we cherish him and 
never criticise him ; may we listen to him and pray 
for him and assist him in all the lines of work as 
God shall show us. May we teach our children to 
love and reverence him, for so may they learn to 
love and reverence Thee. 

Bless any detained at home by sickness or the 
care of the sick. May rays of glory from this place 
reach them and brighten and bless them. 

Bless those who are kept at home by the care 
of the aged or of little children. May they realize 
that God is a Spirit omnipresent, omniscient, as able 
to comfort them at home as in the house of God. 
May we take back to them some word of cheer from 
this place, and if next w r eek we ought to remain at 
home and let them come to prayer meeting remind 
us of it and make us glad to do it. 

"Most merciful Father, whose most blessed 
Son, Jesus Christ, came forth from the bosom of 
Thy love to seek and to save those who were lost ; 



40 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP, 

Who was lifted up that He might draw all men unto 
Him ; in His name we commend unto Thy mercy all 
men everywhere, both those who have heard and 
those who know not the saving power of His cross. 
Make the light thereof to shine in the dark places 
of the earth, and with its might throw down the 
kingdom of Satan in the world. Wherever Thy 
Gospel is preached, let there be those who will hear 
and believe. Enlighten them who are yet groping 
in the darkness of a legal spirit, and give them to 
see the righteousness which is of Thee by faith. 
Show unto all believers the fulness of their salva- 
tion in Christ, and that they are complete in Him." 

Reveal to us the riches of Thy grace and grant 
that we, seeing our privileges, live up to them. 

We ask it in the name of Jesus. Amen. 

CLASS MEETING— LEADER'S PRAYER. 

What shall we render unto Thee for all Thy 
benefits toward us, we ask ourselves, O God, as we 
gather here, a company of Thy children, journey- 
ing hand in hand and heart to heart to the New 
Jerusalem. 

Shall the thought of another week of our lives 
passing into eternity with the long line of weeks 
preceding it, make us sad because of the reminder 
that time is fleeing and that we are growing older? 
No, Heavenly Father, far from it. The vanished 
week, though gone forever, and which humanly we 
felt loath to part with as from a valued friend, has 
carried with it such a precious history of Thy gra- 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY- 41 

cious dealings with us, that the solemnity of an eter- 
nal past is completely banished, being overshadowed 
by blessings so much greater. 

The rapidity with which these precious weeks are 
passing, cause us to think of the never-ending years, 
and the perpetual pleasures which await, in the eter- 
nity of the future, those who to the end endure; 
and better still, O God, to meditate that those fleet- 
ing weeks are hastening the day when Jesus shall 
appear, whose blessed presence we so long to meet 
in the flesh. 

So, Lord, we joyously say: Pass away thou 
years of our youth, hurry thou white hairs of old 
age, let time speed on and eternity hasten, that we 
may be ever present with Thee who hath saved us 
and called us with an holy calling, not according to 
our works, but according to Thine own purpose 
and grace. 

But some here, O Father, have walked through 
thorny paths since last we met. Through sore trib- 
ulation they have forced their way to this meeting. 
They have borne real crosses; have been scorned 
for righteous doing. Shall they render unto Thee 
for all Thy benefits? Yes, they will, Lord. They 
come to drink of that deep well of joy which Thou 
providest for Thy children, and from which we have 
drank here so often. A taste to us of heavenly 
bliss. Help them to rejoice in Thee and experi- 
ence their delight now, because of that river, "The 
streams whereof make glad the city of our God." 



42 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP, 

Among Thy benefits we glory that Thou art 
now in our midst. Thy Spirit assures us Thou 
wilt truly honor and bless the two or more gathered 
in Thy name. We claim Thy blessing now. Thou 
dost bless us. Glory to Thy holy name! 

Lord we have often petitioned Thee in this 
class and Thou hast heard us and sent us home re- 
joincing in Thee as a bounteous giver. But now 
we engage in a praise which will be a delight to 
Thee. Give us a quick eye to perceive occasions 
for gratitude. Let not thanklessness allow Thy 
favors to pass unnoticed. Help us to think of even 
Thy little mercies of the days just passed and sing 
of thy goodness. If these little mercies are beneath 
our notice. Thou wilt remove even these. 

Who hath better reason to praise Thee than 
we? Therefore we give Thee our united praise 
and with one accord exclaim, with David: "I will 
praise Thy name for Thy loving kindness and for 
Thy truth/' 

If any here have yielded to Satan's seductions, 
and feel humiliated because of their sin, and are 
truly sorry, let them rejoice in Thee now as the 
God of their salvation; and praise Thee not alone 
for not withdrawing Thy Spirit; but tenderly 
"drawing them by Thy cords of love" to this hal- 
lowed place where a fresh start may be taken for 
the Kingdom. 

Holy Spirit, lead all of our people here to 
praise Thee. Should one tongue be silent, one with- 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY. 43 

out praise? Shall even the pains of pinching pov- 
erty or distress felt from afflictions to which man 
is heir cause us to hang our harps upon the willow ? 
No, Lord, we will sing Thy praises and render 
unto Thee for all Thy benefits. 

If too blind to perceive temporals, let us bless 
Thee for spirituals. And if too depressed to barely 
do this, then let us render to Thee for what the 
Saviour is to us, "In that while we were yet sin- 
ners, Christ died for us; and being now justified 
by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through 
Him." 

O Lord, inspire us now to bless Thee. Blend 
our testimonies in such praise as is Thy due, that 
we may all, as the result of this meeting, feel anew 
the love of God spread abroad in our hearts. 

And while meditating on Thy goodness, ban- 
ish unbelief, and provoke our love to the intensity 
of a firebrand snatched from the altar of praise, 
that burns before the throne. 

Make this hour the beginning in us of more 
practical deeds of kindness, benevolence and works 
of praise to Thee, to whom be never ending praise 
and glory. Amen. 

CLASS MEETING— MEMBER'S PRAYER. 

"O Lord, we desire to draw near to the foot- 
stool of Thine Eternal Throne. We have been per- 
mitted to discharge the duties of another week. We 
bless Thee for all the renewed proofs we have had 



44 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

of Thy care and kindness. Multitudes have been 
pining in sickness and racked with pain, laid on 
beds of languishing and death — we are still among 
the living to praise Thee ! But far above all Thine 
other gifts we bless Thee for Thine inestimable 
love in the Redemption of a lost and fallen world, 
for the means of grace and for the hope of glory. 
We bless Thee that Jesus, Thy well-beloved Son, 
has brought in an everlasting righteousness — that 
He has magnified Thy law, and made it honorable — 
that even the dark valley has been lighted with Thy 
love, and the gate of Heaven opened to all believers. 

"Discover to us the depths of our depravity, 
unveil to us the secret pride, selfishness, and world- 
liness of our hearts. Show us our besetting sins. 
Let us see their vileness in the cross of Thy dear 
Son. May our hearts become living altars, and our 
lives living sacrifices ; that yielding our members as 
instruments of righteousness unto holiness, may we 
serve Thee in newness of spirit. 

"Lord, we know the proneness of the natural 
heart to put ofif the solemn consideration of the one 
thing needful. Many have lived with good inten- 
tions and yet have perished; let it not be so with 
us; let us live with the conscious feeling that im- 
mortality lieth before us. 

"Let us not be slumbering and sleeping; let 
us not be among the number of the presumptious 
ones, who are saying, 'The Lord delayeth His com- 
ing/ Let us be ever ready, ever watching with the 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY 45 

girded loins and burning lamps, so that when the 
summons shall come, 'Arise, let us be going/ we 
may be ready with the response, 'Lo! this is our 
God, we have waited for Him/ 

"We commend, Holy Father, to Thy gracious 
care and providence our families and households. 
May each be a member of the household of faith. 
Do Thou long continue unbroken our home-circles 
on earth, but let our true home be above. Let the 
watchword of each near and dear to us be this, 
'We are journeying unto the place of which the Lord 
has said, I will give it to you/ 

"Bless the young; train them early for glory. 
Preserve them from the countless temptations of a 
world lying in wickedness. 

"We pray for the afflicted; we commend them 
to Him who knows their frame; who did Himself 
pass through the wilderness of discipline, and Who 
having suffered, being tempted, is able to succor 
them that are tempted. 

"Let Thy kingdom come. Stand by Thy mis- 
sionary servants ; may they have many heathen souls 
for their hire — many who shall be to them as a 
crown of joy and rejoicing, on the great day. 

"We pray for Thy cause throughout the world. 
Bless our nation, may she be the honored instrument 
among the kingdoms of the earth in greatly promot- 
ing the glory of her God. Bless our President, may 
he evermore have affiance in Thee, and ever seek 
Thy honor and glory. Bless every rank and con- 



46 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP, 

dition. May Thy favor encompass all as with a 
shield. 

"Be Thou with us, blessed Lord, this day. May 
Thine angels encamp round about us and keep us 
in all our ways. 

"May we all be found unto praise, and honor 
and glory, at the appearing of Jesus Christ. And 
all that we ask is for His sake." Amen. 

BIBLE READING. 

Heavenly Father, we thank Thee for the privi- 
leges of this hour. 

To gather round Thy Book is our chief delight ; 
this is the very jubilee of time, the hour of joy 
and growth and liberty. May no man miss the 
sacredness of the opportunity; may every moment 
be begrudged that is not spent in eager attention, 
and may the one desire of every listener be to know 
what God the Lord hath spoken — the invisible God 
in Heaven, or the visible and human Christ on 
earth. 

Give us to see more and more of the grace that 
is in Christ Jesus, Son of man, Son of God. He 
was the express image of his Father, the very 
brightness of His glory. May we study His words 
profitably, lovingly, seeking out their meaning with 
earnest hearts and receiving the same in all its 
usefulness. 

May we no longer live as those who have no 
centre, no altar, no God ; but live the deep life and 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY, 47 

the true, feeding ourselves upon the bread sent 
down from Heaven, lost in wonder, love, and 
praise as we gaze upon the truth of God ; and thus 
may our life, being divinely nourished, express 
itself in human beneficence: may we go about 
doing good, knocking at the doors that are shut 
upon us, that in opening them we may find an op- 
portunity of preaching Christ and exemplifying the 
light of Heaven. 

His words are full of love, full of mystery, full 
of grace. We wonder at the gracious words which 
proceed out of His mouth — the words themselves 
so gracious and made doubly gracious by the tender- 
ness and majesty of His tone. Give us at all times 
when Christ is the speaker, the hearing ear, the 
understanding heart, and the obedient will; then 
shall our hearing be a means of grace, and the sight 
of Christ by the vision of the soul shall be a 
ministry of transfiguration: then shall we be like 
Him when we see Him as He is, 

CHURCH SOCIABLE. 

Heavenly Father, we have gathered as mem- 
bers of this church and community to get acquainted 
with each other and have a good time. 

May we do nothing or say nothing which our 
Lord Jesus Christ would not approve, if He were 
present as the Son of man in our midst. 

May we put away frivolity as unbecoming a 
gathering of professedly Christian people. 

May we not speak the multitude of words in 



48 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

which there is sin, nor idle words for which men 
are to be called to account, nor the slanderous, back- 
biting words which Thou dost hate. 

May our speech be with grace seasoned with 
salt, and our words be words of life which shall 
edify and help each other. 

May something be done which shall make us 
richer and the world better for our gathering to- 
gether. 

If there are lonesome strangers here may they 
feel that they are in Father's house and Father's 
family. 

Bless the poor of our church and community. 
May we as a church remember the old apostolic 
days and be among those who earn money not to 
spend it selfishly, but to have to give to him that 
needeth. 

Bless the children. May we be tender and 
thoughtful of them and lead them into the fold of 
God. 

Bless our committee of arrangements. May 
they always have in mind and choose for our enter- 
tainment those things which will not only please, 
but prove a lasting benefit to us all. 

Do for us as a church and people exceeding 
abundantly above all we ask or think, for Thine own 
gracious name's sake. Amen. 



PRIVATE DEVOTION,, PERSONAL MINISTRY 49 



CHAPTER IV. 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 



PRAYER FOR A SUNDAY-SCHOOL 
TEACHERS' MEETING. 

"Almighty God, be with us in our meeting; 
and may all our counsels be ordered in heavenly 
wisdom, and crowned with Thine abundant bless- 
ing. Graciously instruct us, that we may know 
the mind of the Spirit in Holy Scripture. Qualify 
us in heart and soul for the work committed to our 
trust, that so we may impart of that which we have 
received, and be Thine instruments in leading many 
into the way of life. 

"And we beseech Thee of Thine infinite mer- 
cies to bless the children who are given to our 
charge. Open their understandings and dispose 
their hearts to receive Thy truth, which is able to 
make them wise unto salvation. Awaken in their 
minds by Thy Spirit a deep sense of their sinfulness, 
and bring them to ask and receive the mercy which 
is in Christ Jesus. Let us fall into no sin, neither 
run into any kind of danger of soul or body. Grant, 
if it be consistent with Thy wisdom, that their lives 
may be prolonged on the earth. Prepare them, 



50 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

by Thy grace, to fill with honor to themselves and 
usefulness to the world every station of life to which 
Thy Providence shall call them; and let it please 
Thee, O Lord, to raise up from among them those 
who shall testify for Thee in the gospel of Thy Son. 

"Give Thy grace, we implore Thee, to all par- 
ents and guardians, that with all diligence and af- 
fection of heart they may train up the children of 
their charge in the way in which they should go. 

"Bestow Thy special blessing upon Thy servant 
whom Thou hast appointed to minister to us in the 
gospel of Christ; that he may be led by the Spirit, 
and faithfully serve before Thee to the glory of 
Thy name; and that his labors may be abundantly 
blessed in winning souls to righteousness, and 
crowned with acceptance in the day of the Lord 
Jesus. These things, and whatever else Thou shalt 
see necessary and convenient for him, for us, and 
for Thy whole Church, we humbly ask through 
the merits of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." 
Amen. 

PRAYER OF A SUPERINTENDENT. 

Our Heavenly Father, we gather in Thy name, 
to study Thy Word and learn of Thee. May we 
remember that this is the house of God and the 
place of prayer, and be quiet, thoughtful, attentive 
and prayerful. 

May we who teach realize our individual re* 
sponsibility to speak in the Spirit, as the oracles of 
God. 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY. 5 1 

May we be faithful in the preparation of the 
lessons. May we consider that no office in the 
church is more important than ours; that to us is 
committed the training of plastic minds that will 
be holy missionaries, goodly ministers, righteous 
business men, and true, devoted Christian wives 
and mothers if we are faithful, but who may 
be godless, prayerless, men and women if we are 
not faithful. 

May those who listen and learn know that 
God requires them to have open ears and receptive 
hearts. May they love the truth and learn here 
how to obey it and go out to follow the blessed 
teachings of the Word of God. 

Be with any absent teachers. Bless any who 
are ill, and who are hindered from coming by any 
cause which they could not control. 

If any are absent because of indifference or 
backsliding, quickly restore them or take them out 
from us. 

Give us in this school a corps of teachers who 
are God's faithful minute men, true to Him and 
true to their trust. 

Bless any absent pupils. May the teachers 
learn the cause of their absence and never rest in 
love or in prayer until they are back again in the 
school with us. 

Bless our Pastor. May he have food for the 
lambs in every sermon, and may we love him and 
love to listen to him. 



52 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

Bless us specially in this service to-day, and 
grant that when Jesus comes we may be among the 
white-robed throng who shall go into the marriage 
supper of the Lamb. For Jesus' sake. Amen. 

TEACHER'S PRAYER FOR A 
CLASS OF GIRLS. 

Dear Father, I pray for these girls which Thou 
hast given me, that they may not love the world, 
neither the things that are in the world, but may 
love Thee supremely and one another as Thou hast 
loved them. 

May they be so yielded to Thee that Thou canst 
cleanse each one and make each one a fit temple 
for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. 

May the Holy Spirit come in and take entire 
possession, revealing the deep things of God to them 
as they study their lessons this week. 

May they stop their ears from hearing and 
shut their eyes from seeing evil, may they keep 
their lips from speaking guile, remembering what 
our Lord has said that not that which goeth into 
the mouth defileth, but that which cometh out of 
the mouth. 

Sanctify them through Thy truth, we beseech 
Thee, for Jesus' sake and in Jesus' name. Amen. 

TEACHER'S PRAYER FOR A 
CLASS OF BOYS. 

Heavenly Father, bless the class of boys Thou 
hast graciously committed to my keeping. 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY 53 

Shield them in the hour of danger; enable 
them to overcome in time of temptation ; forbid that 
they should go from my instruction into the down- 
ward path of sin. 

Give me time and strength and grace to visit 
my pupils and pray with them as well as for them. 

Help me to be patient and persevering in my 
efforts to lead them to Christ. 

Help me to study my Bible more faithfully that 
I may know better how to teach it. 

Help me to attend the teachers' meeting regu- 
larly that I may help others and learn how to in- 
struct my class more perfectly. Amen. 

PRAYER FOR CHILDREN OF THE 
PRIMARY CLASS. 

"Father ! bless our school to-day ! 
Be in all we do or say ! 
Be in every song we sing! 
Every prayer to Thee we bring! 
Come and with Thy children meet ! 
And while waiting at Thy feet ! 
May we in the lesson see 
Something teaching us of Thee." Amen. 



54 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP, 



CHAPTER V. 



GATHERINGS OF WOMEN. 



WOMAN'S FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY- 
OPENING PRAYER. 

Our Heavenly Father, Thou who dost desire 
to show Thyself as a Father to all Thy children, 
be with us at this time and show Thyself strong 
in our behalf. 

We are but women, but Thou hast said, "The 
Lord gave the word; great was the company of 
women that published it " (Ps. 68: 1 1) ; and we are 
in Thy hands that Thou mayest work through us 
for the "publishing" of Thy Word to the "utter- 
most part of the earth." To do this, our Father, 
wilt Thou completely possess each one of us here. 
Possess our members, that we may speak, see, and 
give as Thou directest. Possess our possessions 
that we may count ourselves but as stewards of all 
we have. Possess our lives that we hold ourselves 
in readiness to do Thy will at any time, at any cost 
and in any place. 

We ask, our Father, to bless us, that we may 
be a blessing to the world. 

We ask Thee to remember all missionaries 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY 55 

and especially those who are separated from all 
other missionaries in loneliness on hard fields. We 
ask Thee to remember the missionaries recently 
sent out ; help them to quickly learn the language 
and quiet their hearts in this waiting time. Re- 
member, our Lord, those that have patiently worked 
a long time in their field without visible fruit, help 
them not to be weary in w r ell doing. Strengthen 
and establish the native Christians and multiply 
them. 

Give w 7 isdom to all Missionary Societies. Give 
a spirit of supplication and sacrifice to those at 
home, and begin, our Father, with us in this meet- 
ing. Keep us true to the trust that Thou hast 
given us ; the trust of knowing Thy Word, of hav- 
ing in our control some of Thy money and of having 
the Holy Spirit to empower us for anything Thou 
dost require. 

We not only ask for these things, but we ac- 
cept them at Thy hand, knowing that it is Thy will 
that "all men should be saved," thus, we praise and 
adore Thy blessed name. All that we have omitted 
to ask for wilt Thou give. In the name of Jesus. 
Amen. 

WOMAN'S FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY- 
CLOSING PRAYER. 

We thank Thee, our Heavenly Father, that 
Thou hast manifestly fulfilled Thy promise to us 
and as we have gathered together in Thy name, 
Thou hast been in our midst. 



56 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP, 

We thank Thee for all we have heard of the 
horrors 'of heathendom, not because of their horrible 
state, but because we can be more in touch with 
Thee, for we now see what Thine eye can observe 
the whole day long. Our heart can now conceive 
of the weight of the command to, ' ' Go and disciple 
all nations," for Thou dost see their great need. 
Without a vision the people perish and therefore 
we thank Thee for the Vision and its impression on 
our hearts. 

We thank Thee for what we have heard of the 
accomplishment of Thy grace in heathen fields. It 
still further encourages us to continue in prayer 
and to continue in giving that the good work may 
go on. 

As we separate we ask Thee not to let the im- 
pressions fade from our minds, but deepen them into 
convictions and then enable us to act according to 
our convictions. 

Keep us in a spirit of prayer, and so in touch 
with Thee, that we may ask for those things that 
Thou dost wish to work out in connection with the 
evangelization of the world. 

Thanking Thee again for Thy presence 
amongst us, and taking it with us, we praise Thee 
through Jesus Christ. Amen. 

WOMAN'S HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY- 
OPENING PRAYER. 

Our Heavenly Father, we come before Thee, 
asking Thee for guidance and for wisdom in this 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY, $? 

meeting, and that we may catch the thought Thou 
hast for us at this time. 

We cannot do everything in this great work of 
missions, but we can do something and Thou hast 
set each one of us, even women as we are, in the 
place where we find ourselves, that we may look 
from that place over Thy vineyard and hear Thy call 
to go and work. Thy command to go first to Jeru- 
salem before going to the uttermost part is before 
us and we pray Thee, that this meeting may prove 
a clarion call to all to do more for Thee in their 
Jerusalem and Judea, our home land. 

We pray Thee to take all things into Thy hand, 
control, guide and bless our leader, give us all hear- 
ing ears and an open heart to receive Thy word. 

Bless the messages that shall be given, and may 
there be living and energizing words spoken. Bless 
our hymns of praise and our supplications that 
all things in this meeting may redound to Thy 
glory. 

Help us to be not only Home Missionaries, 
but missionaries at home, beginning Thy work in 
our own families and from hence in ever widening 
circles until our eternal service shall be before the 
throne. 

We pray Thee to let our service be a service of 
love, so fill us with Thy Spirit that we may feel with 
the heart of Christ and be constrained to live and 
move in that love. 

We pray Thee to take the man-fearing spirit 



58 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

from us, if any suffer so, help us to see "J esus only" 
in our service, and depend on "J esus only" in our- 
selves. Enable us to look only for Thy approval, 
yet may our ways be winsome for Thee. 

We pray for that which Thou seest we need 
and that we see not. Open Thou our eyes that we 
may behold also. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen. 

WOMAN'S HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY- 
CLOSING PRAYER. 

We thank Thee, our Father in Heaven, that 
Thou hast had charge of this hour. We thank Thee 
that Thy promises for the workers for Thee are so 
manifold in Thy Word. We receive Thy faith to 
take hold upon them, and lean on Thee as we go 
forth from this place, that Thou mayest work them 
out in our lives. 

We pray for all workers all over our land, that 
they may be blessed in their souls and strengthened 
for their work. 

We ask for all societies for Home Work, that 
Thou mayest prosper them. 

We ask Thee now as a society that Thou wilt 
baptize us afresh for the work that lies at our 
doors and give us a spirit of unselfishness for other 
work in our own country. 

Let the words of this hour be indelibly wrought 
in our lives that we may as Thou didst, go about 
doing good. 

As we go forth wilt Thou go before and open 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY 59 

the way that we may be of some service to Thee. 
All we ask is in the name of Jesus and our praise is 
to His name. Amen. 

MOTHERS' MEETING— OPENING PRAYER. 

Heavenly Father, we come to Thee as children 
feeling the need of strength and counsel. Oh ! wilt 
Thou hear us in our prayers for our community, 
our church and our home? Thou who art as a 
Shepherd among us, help us to follow Thee. We 
want to put ourselves in Thy hands, for they art 
well kept whom Thou dost keep. Lead us and 
guide us in all things. 

Thou knowest our lives, forgive all that is not 
right in Thy sight, and fill us with Thy Holy Spirit 
that we may make them perfect before Thee. 

Bless our church and help us to show others 
how Christians should live. 

Keep us from discouragement, and bring to our 
remembrance the source of our strength and hope. 
May we take hold of the work Thou givest us to 
do with both hands and be faithful unto death. 

Be with us in our homes that Thy presence may 
make us wise in bringing up our children, kind and 
patient with their youth and ignorance. May Thy 
love in us bring obedience and love from them and 
all our lives together be happy, and sweet, and 
good in Thy sight. 

We thank Thee for Thy Book, may its words 
be the law of our church, our state and our country. 



6o PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

Grant that our rulers be men who love God 
and deal kindly and justly with all; who love the 
truth above all things, and who have no fear, who 
spread light and dispel darkness; who study Thy 
will and Thy way, and bring safety and strength 
to the land. 

We thank Thee for Thy love, for Thy tender 
mercies ; for the gift of Thy Son Jesus Christ ; for 
Thy Word ; for every blessing which has come from 
Thy hand. 

Strengthen us by Thy Holy Spirit, and to Thee 
be all glory and honor forevermore. Amen. 

MOTHERS' MEETING— CLOSING PRAYER. 

We come to Thee, O Thou Divine Lover of the 
human race, at this closing hour, to pray that the 
words we have heard may sink deep into our hearts 
and go with us to our homes and be carried out in 
practical, patient, dutiful living. 

Make us better wives, better mothers, better 
neighbors, because we have gathered here. 

Bless our husbands and may each one of us as 
wives learn to be subject to the one whom Thou 
hast placed over us as our head, may we not scold 
him, not argue with him, not contradict him, but 
defer to his judgement, and say "yes" to his every 
request and so live that Thou can't fulfill to us Thy 
promises and our home be a little Paradise of God. 

Bless our children. May we set them ever a 
holy example, and never say anything, never do 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY 6l 

anything we would not like to have them say or 
see them do. May we be tenderly patient with 
them, careful not to threaten, yet true to fulfill every 
promise. 

May we look not on our own things, but al- 
ways in all circumstances look at events from the 
standpoint of "others." 

Work in us to will and to do of Thy good pleas- 
ure along every line, as we have asked of Thee, 
that Thy name may be glorified in our homes and 
in our neighborhood. Amen. 

LADIES' AID SOCIETY— OPENING PRAYER. 

Our Heavenly Father, we gather in Thy name 
with the object of furthering the cause of Christ 
in our church and community. 

We desire to be a blessing to the sick, to visit 
the stranger, to help the poor, to comfort the sor- 
rowful. 

We would be instrumental in bringing those 
who attend our church or Sunday School into our 
sanctuary and into the fold of Christ. 

We ask Thee to direct all our deliberations, to 
the furtherance of the gospel of Christ in the church 
and in the world. 

Bless our homes. May our church work in no 
wise hinder our necessary work at home. Speed 
us in all we do that we may make the most of time 
and opportunity. 

Bless our pastor and make us of real assistance 
to him in the different departments of his work. 



62 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

Bless our officiary. May they be remarkable for 
godliness and faithfulness to every duty. 

Bless our Sunday School. May the truth be 
taught and accepted and lived out. 

Bless us as wives and mothers who desire to 
be true to God's best for us, that Thy perfect will 
may be wrought out in us, both in our church work 
and in our home duties. 

Let us live the life of faith, the noble eternal 
life of trust in the living God; saying daily until 
our very voice becomes musical by the exercise, 
"The will of the Lord be done." Amen. 

LADIES* AID SOCIETY— CLOSING PRAYER. 

Bless us, Heavenly Father, as we go to our 
homes. 

"We will leave all the way to God. We will 
not take our life-course from our passion, our im- 
agination, our selfishness; we will have nothing to 
do with it, except in God and through the ministry 
of the Holy Spirit. Then our thirst shall be a bless- 
ing, our hunger shall be a means of grace, our diffi- 
culties shall be elements of delight, and the strain 
that is put upon our weakness shall be the begin- 
ning and the assurance of power. 

"Bring us into the inner places of God's house ; 
take us from chamber to chamber until we see the 
innermost centre possible to earthly vision ; give us 
to feel the warmth of the sanctuary — its tender, hos- 
pitable glow; give us to feel assurance of God's 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY 63 

nearness and God's love and God's almightiness to 
save. 

"Protect us from impressions made through the 
senses only, and undertake for us that we shall learn 
wholly from Thy Spirit, disregarding appearances 
which we can neither understand nor control. En- 
able us to trust Thee, and love Thee, and serve 
Thee : and when the enemy's hand is mighty upon 
us, may the hand of God be mightier still ; and when 
the discouragement of the way is very severe, may 
our gift in prayer be greatly enlarged, and our souls 
see an open gate to the throne of the heavenly 
grace." Amen. 

W. C. T. U.— OPENING. 

Our Heavenly Father, we come in the name of 
Him who offered Himself a sacrifice for all man- 
kind. 

We have given ourselves to Thee to be specially 
used in the cause of temperance, to train the chil- 
dren, to educate the ignorant, to lift up the fallen, 
to rescue the perishing and to comfort the sorrow- 
ful. 

We ask Thee to keep us in Thy perfect will 
for us in the work, to guide our steps in the way 
of peace and holiness. Give us courage to speak 
the truth, but may we speak it in love. While we 
hate the traffic with divine hatred, may we love the 
traffickers with divine love, a love that will be true 
at any cost. 



64 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

Direct our deliberations and our work this 
hour. May we have God's highest thought for us 
about everything. 

Keep us in our social relations, may we remem- 
ber the words of our beloved leader, Frances Wil- 
lard, never to say anything discouraging about the 
work nor disparaging about the workers. May the 
love in our midst draw others to the work so dear 
to our hearts. 

Comfort the wives and mothers who have intem- 
perate husbands or sons or daughters. Bless those 
whose hearts ache for fear of what may be because 
of the moderate indulgence of stimulants. Bless 
the drunkard who is seeking to be delivered from 
bondage and bring him out into liberty. 

We ask it that God may be glorified and souls 
may be saved to the honor and praise of Jesus' name. 
Amen. 

W. C. T. U.— CLOSING. 

"Heavenly Father, we beseech Thee in behalf 
of this great and crying evil of intemperance in our 
land. O, be merciful and deliver us from it ! 

"Tongue cannot tell the sorrow and pain re- 
sulting from this sin, but Thou, O omniscient God, 
Thou knowest, and to Thee only, all powerful, all 
merciful, do we look for help. 

"To those already enslaved by this vice, we 
pray Thee give strength to overcome it. May they 
fight valiantly against it and win the victory through 
Jesus Christ. 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY 65 

"O, God! inspire all mankind with fear and 
distrust toward this insiduous foe. Turn public 
sentiment against it everywhere. May Christian 
people especially stand courageously opposed to it. 
Give us wisdom as to the means to employ to defeat 
it. May those of us who are strong abstain from 
it lest w T eaker ones be offended or made to stumble 
through us. May we take no undecided stand in 
regard to it, but being fully persuaded that it is 
wrong throw all the strength of our influence 
against it and strive earnestly, though gently, to 
win back those who have become ensnared by it. 

"All this we ask in the name and for the sake 
of Christ our Saviour." Amen. 



66 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 



CHAPTER VI. 



GATHERINGS OF YOUNG PEOPLE. 



Y. M. C. A.— OPENING PRAYER. 

Heavenly Father, as a band of young men, we 
gather in Thy name to receive blessing that we 
may be a blessing. 

Speak to us Lord, reveal the truth as it is in 
Christ Jesus. May the message from Thy Word 
find a deep lodgment in our hearts and be wrought 
out in our lives. 

"We need Thee now; we would see a light 
above the brightness of the sun; we would stand 
very near to God and feel His breathing upon our 
hearts and His gentle touch upon our whole life; 
and we would answer that conscious nearness by 
new service and new loyalty. 

"We would say again, with new strength of 
words and thought, that the Lord shall have all we 
are; for we are Thine not our own, bought with 
a price ; therefore to glorify Thee shall be our one 
work, our soul's desire, our one delight. 

"We bless Thee for those who have gone up 
nearer the light, nearer the throne, nearer the love 
that casts no one out who will put forth one trem- 



PRIVATE DEVOTION,, PERSONAL MINISTRY 67 

bling hand toward its great security. May we fol- 
low them as they followed Christ. 

"We would carry out Thine instructions to the 
letter ; in all our ways we would acknowledge God, 
that our paths may be directed. We bless Thee 
for this consciousness that Thou art always speak- 
ing to us. We will listen for Thee; we will hush 
almost the beating of our heart, lest we miss one 
tone of Thy gospel. When we do not know which 
way to go, let us hear a voice in our ear saying: 
This is the way, walk ye in it. And when the 
roads are many in number, crossing one another 
in thick perplexity, let a light shine upon the road 
we ought to take, and we shall know that light to 
be the finger of God. 

"Be with those who are in difficult places — 
who are standing outside barred against progress 
and liberty. Look upon those who are fighting ill- 
fated battles, to whom the morning brings no hope 
and the night no rest — baffled, disappointed, sorely 
stricken. 

"The Lord grant unto the soldier in the day 
of battle, and of fear, and of death too certain, 
confidence in right and truth and God. Pity those 
whose homes are battle-fields, though the war be 
fought mpny a mile away, for at home men die 
over again, and still worse death is died because 
of distance, imagination, and aggravated trouble. 
Comfort those to whom men may not speak, because 
of the sacredness of sorrow. Regard those who are 



68 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

on the sea, as if pursued by the winds, as if the 
storm were wreaking vengeance upon them, and 
tearing their frail ship to pieces; the Lord plant 
His footsteps on the sea, and make the storm a 
trumpet softening into gospel tones and filled with 
meaning which the heart alone can comprehend. 
Bring back the traveler ; make his face radiant with 
joy; take the age out of his limbs, and let him run 
with the vigor of youth. Speak to the dying, and 
they shall not die. Touch the old man, and he 
will forget his earth-age in the hope of heavenly 
youth. 

"We speak our prayer in the sweet name of 
Jesus crucified once, crowned for evermore. He 
died for us — the just for the unjust; He rose again 
for us to show that death can snatch but a 
brief triumph, the final and eternal victory 
being on the side of life. God be merciful unto us, 
and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon 
us; and in the shining of that face, we shall for- 
get all the pale and mocking glory which once made 
us glad." Amen. 

Y. M. C. A.— CLOSING PRAYER. 

"We bless Thee for the holy time, for the holy 
place, and for the holy Book — a time that is separ- 
ate, a place that is made a sanctuary, a Book that 
stands above all other books, alone in its complete- 
ness and authority. May we understand these 
appointments, and respond to all their meaning: 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY 69 

may the time be as a jewel among the days; may 
the place sanctify our habitations; may the Book 
inspire and direct our thought and feeling and 
action. Thus, may we be the better — not the worse 
— for our meeting together in Thy name: may we 
feel the mystery of sympathy; may we enter into 
the joy of fellowship ; may w T e have communion 
one with another and with our Lord Jesus Christ 
by the power of the Holy Ghost. Thus, united in 
Thy love and worshipping at Thine altar, we shall 
be prepared to endure the burden and the suffering 
of life, and to wait with expectancy and hope the 
day of Thine appearing. 

"We bless Thee for the flowers in the wilder- 
ness, for water among the rocks, for a cooling 
breeze at noonday ; for all the mercy and loving 
kindness, so tender and abundant, which have fol- 
lowed us all the days of our life, and made it a 
time of sunshine and liberty. That we have not 
lived up to all this call of Thine, enforced by provi- 
dences so tender, and ennobled by a pathos so 
wondrous as the sacrifice of Thy Son, is our bitter- 
est complaint : we accuse ourselves ; we know that 
we have come short in all things, and that we have 
offended against Thee. But Thy mercy is great to 
forgive as well as to provide ; Thy loving kindness 
is a redemption as w T ell as a providence ; so we come 
to the Cross, owning our sickness of heart, our 
rebellion of will, our whole evil-mindedness, asking 
for the pardon of God. 



yo PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

"Comfort us according to our necessities ; how 
many they are Thou knowest, how bitter and sharp 
Thou alone canst tell. Withhold not Thy consola- 
tions : let Thy solaces be more in number than our 
sufferings ; then shall we magnify God in the house 
of our affliction. Regard our loved ones for whom 
it is our delight to pray. Some are not here : they 
are far away upon the sea, or beyond the sea, in 
strange lands, in difficult places ; or they are in the 
chamber of sickness, or in the shadow of a great 
sorrow, counting their loss, and not able to find 
the gain which Thou hast hidden amid its tears; 
the Lord look upon them, be tender and gracious 
unto them, comfort them with stimulus, that they 
may be stirred up to nobler service and not be 
allowed to sink under the burden of their grief. 

"Teach us that we are children of heaven and 
not of earth, of eternity and not of time, and that 
there are no good things to be found below which 
can satisfy the capacity of the soul. 

"Hear us in these things. Hear us for the 
land we love, for the throne to which we are bound, 
for all the institutions that represent the highest 
thought and best ambition of life; and overrule 
all things to the inbringing of the kingdom which 
is all purity and sunshine and music." Amen. 

Y. W. C. A.— OPENING PRAYER. 

"Heavenly Father, we come to Thee in the 
name of Him who is the Way, and the Truth, and 
the Life. 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY 71 

"We would see Jesus, we would fix the at- 
tention of our love and expectation upon Thy Son, 
and receive from Him what He alone can give — 
life, pardon, peace. Without Him we can do noth- 
: ing. We are powerless when cut away from the 
Vine and the upper life, the divine and eternal; 
then we fall back into the dust: we are without 
spirit or force or goodness of will. We can do all 
things through Christ which strengthened us — yea, 
we can bear much fruit and make the Father glad. 
May me abide in Christ; may we look to the Son 
of God; may we fix our whole love upon Jesus, 
and obey Him with a consenting will. We thank 
Thee for all the words spoken by the Son of God ; 
they are spirit, they are life, they are full of tender- 
est love ; they lift the cloud from the outlook of the 
mind and shed eternal glory on things beyond. 

"We bless Thee for this service, its security, its 
quietness, its spirit of holy peace. Be near us, every 
one. Touch the sad heart, and give it one hour's 
release from burdensomeness. Look upon the strug- 
gling life, and the glance of Thine eye shall be as 
a guarantee of hope and conquest. 

"We pray for one another : for the young, and 
the bright, and the tuneful, that they may rise up 
into nobleness and usefulness of life; for the sad 
and the weary; for the one who has just seen life's 
emptiness, and turned away with discontent from 
the place where she meant to find pleasure. 

"We pray for the friends we love, and with- 



J2 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

out whom we could not live — the hearts we look 
for, the travelers we expect with joy, the souls that 
light every room of the house with tender glory; 
for our friends who are far away, across the great 
sea, wanderers in places they have not yet known. 
We pray for those in trouble on the sea — that great 
and terrible waste. We pray for all who are visit- 
ing us from distant places : may they feel at* home ; 
may there be some touch in Thy house that they 
shall recognize with ardent love and thankfulness. 
We pray for our sick ones : some nigh unto death ; 
some are sick of body — weary, utterly exhausted: 
others are ailing in mind; they are disappointed, 
they are mortified, they have not found what they 
expected. 

"We pray for those whose graves are quite 
new, for the grass has not yet had time to grow 
upon them, there is not a flower upon the mould 
that hides the dead; be Thou the resurrection and 
the life in the hearts of such ; turn that last resting- 
place into a garden of flowers, and make it a place 
where they will keep appointments with those who 
from death would learn how to live. v The Lord be 
with us now; and we need no other presence." 
Amen.N 

Y. W. C. A. CLOSING PRAYER. 

"Our Heavenly Father, we praise Thee that 
Thou knowest us altogether, what we need and what 
we want. 

"Our whole heart is laid bare before Thee, like 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY, 73 

an open page, and Thyie eye can see the secret 
springs of our thought. Grant unto us some assur- 
ance that our emptiness shall be filled up, that our 
desire shall be construed into a sacred prayer and 
answered with largest blessing ; may our aspirations 
be regarded as uttering the necessities of the soul, 
at least in hint, how feeble soever, and may they 
return upon us with great benedictions. 

"May we always be faithful to the altar, may 
our inquiry go deeper and deeper every day, and 
may our love burn until perfectly disinfected of all 
selfishness, earthliness and limitation, until it be- 
come a great flame, aspiring in continual hope and 
sacrifice to the very throne of God. We bless Thee 
for all Christian fellowship, for communion in 
Christ Jesus, that we can speak through Him and 
with Him, that He is our Advocate and Intercessor : 
our Priest, eloquent through His own blood, mighty 
through the weakness of the Cross, the greater for 
us because so pained in Gethsemane and unable to 
save Himself on Calvary. 

"We love the Cross because of its representa- 
tion of God's love, God's pity, God's omnipotence — 
may we cling to it, glory in it, magnify it, and die 
under the inspiration of its holy mystery." Amen. 

YOUNG WOMAN'S FOREIGN MISSIONARY 
SOCIETY— OPENING PRAYER. 

Our Father we thank Thee that Thou hast 
watched over us and cared for us since we last 
met. 



74 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

We praise Thee for the privilege of gathering 
again in Thy name to be workers together with 
Thee to bring blessing to those who have never 
heard the gospel and to those who are giving the 
gospel to a lost and perishing world. 

We thank Thee that we believe Thou art here 
in our midst to guide us and instruct us in all we 
aim to do for the good of our fellow men. 

Bless the little orphan in India (or China, or 
Africa) that Thou art permitting us to support 
and educate. May the child be brought up to know 
Thee, love Thee, serve Thee and rejoice in Thee. 

Bless the native substitute that Thou art per- 
mitting us to support. May he (or she) be divine- 
ly directed and blessed, upheld and preserved from 
danger, and kept from sickness and given strength 
to overcome Satan and sin, and enabled to declare 
the glad tidings of the unsearchable riches of 
Christ. 

Bless us and enable us to be fruitful in our 
work, generous in our gifts, unselfish in our devo- 
tion to Thee and to those Thou art permitting us 
to befriend. 

Help us in our homes to be loving, patient and 
gentle. May we there and everywhere gladly fol- 
low Jesus who came not to be ministered unto but 
to minister. 

Grant us all this that we may be a blessing to 
the world and that Thou mayest be glorified. Amen. 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY 75 

YOUNG WOMAN'S FOREIGN MISSIONARY 
SOCIETY— CLOSING PRAYER. 

Heavenly Father we thank Thee that Thou 
hast fulfilled Thy promise to be with those who 
meet in Thy name. We believe Thou hast given 
us wisdom and understanding in the work Thou 
hast given us to do. 

We praise Thee that Thou in Thy great mercy 
dost count us worthy to minister to others in Thy 
name, and ask Thee to keep us through the month 
(or week) until we meet again. 

May we remember that private duty is quite 
as important as public service; that to be thought- 
ful, faithful in all the home cares ; that to improve 
opportunities to help father, mother, brother, and 
sister is real missionary work and acceptable in Thy 
sight. 

Bless our community, our neighbors and those 
we come in daily contact with, and may our ex- 
ample and influence lead them to better appreciate 
our Lord and Saviour. 

Help us always to think of others before our- 
selves, and follow the example of Him of whom 
it was truly said: "He saved others, Himself He 
cannot save." 

We ask it all for Jesus' sake. Amen. 
YOUNG WOMAN'S HOME MISSIONARY 
SOCIETY— OPENING PRAYER. 

Our Heavenly Father, we praise Thee for Thy 
great goodness to us since we last met in the name 
of Jesus. 



j6 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

We thank Thee for home and friends and com- 
forts and opportunities to serve Thee in blessing 
others. 

Bless the little ones Thou are letting us feed 
and clothe. 

Bless the aged to whom we send papers and 
flowers and fruit. 

Bless the sick in the hospital whom Thou dost 
permit some of us to visit and cheer by our sym- 
pathy and prayer. 

Bless the poor prisoners in the jail to whom 
some of us minister. 

Bless our work on the frontier, and especially 
the minister's family whom we love to help with 
gifts and letters. 

Bless the teachers and missionaries in the South 
among the colored people and the poor whites. 
Give them wisdom, courage, love and patience. 

We ask all for the sake of suffering humanity, 
and in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

YOUNG WOMAN'S HOME MISSIONARY 
SOCIETY— CLOSING PRAYER. 

Heavenly Father, we ask Thee that we may be 
conscious of Thy Divine presence as we return 
home from our little gathering in Thy name. 

May the influence of the hour remain with us. 
May we be better daughters and better sisters be- 
cause we have spent this hour in definite work for 
Thee. 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY JJ 

May we be more loving and thoughtful and 
patient in our homes. Help us to minister faith- 
fully to any in the household who are weary or 
ill or troubled. Make us ever thoughtful in little 
things. 

May our highest aim be to please Jesus and 
follow Him fully. 

We ask it all in His name and for His glory. 
Amen. 



KING'S DAUGHTERS' AFTERNOON 
CIRCLE— OPENING PRAYER. 

"Our Heavenly Father, be with us this after- 
noon as we kneel together at Thy throne of grace 
and ask Thy blessing on our Band, and direction 
from Thee in our work. Help us to do Thy will 
cheerfully and gladly, ever putting aside our own 
selfish pleasures to minister to Thy poor and needy 
ones. 

"Be pleased to bless the little baby whom we 
are supplying with food for its body. If it can con- 
form with Thy will, grant that she may strengthen 
and improve day by day, but, above all, may her 
life be blessed to all around her, and that so long 
as it continues it shall be spent in Thy service. 

"Bless Thy aged servant to whom we have 
ministered. Dear Father, supply all her needs, and 
be very near to her in her declining years, and grant 
that she may safely enter into the harbor of heavenly 
rest when the end shall come. 



j8 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

"Bless all our sick friends. Be with them on 
their beds of languishing, restore them to health 
if it can conform with Thy holy will, and if any 
are appointed to die, save them everlastingly. 

"Bless this city in which we live, and make us 
a godly people. Deliver us from pestilence and 
public disaster. 

"We thank Thee for all Thy goodness to us 
as a community, and as individuals, and may we 
ever give Thee all the praise, honor and glory due 
to Thy holy name. 

"O God, bless us. Help us each day to be able 
to say, 'Less of self and more of Thee.' Make us 
more watchful and prayerful, remembering that 
each day may be our last. 

"Watch over us during the ensuing month 
while we are absent one from another, and bring us 
all together again, for Christ's sake." Amen. 

KING'S DAUGHTERS' AFTERNOON 
CIRCLE— CLOSING PRAYER. 

"Our Heavenly Father, help us not to feel 
that when we have come here one afternoon in each 
month that we have done all we ought to do, but 
fill us with such love for Thee that we may con- 
stantly be looking for something to do whereby we 
may express that love. 

"Enable us to withstand temptation. Oh, God, 
Thou knowest the besetting sins of each one of us 
here, especially guard us against those. Check in 
us ugly tempers, malice, unholy pride, envy and 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY 79 

all unkind feelings. Help us each morning, as we 
repeat our motto, to endeavor to live up to it, and 
strengthen us to do so. 

"Help us to be unselfish. May we remember 
that Jesus gave Himself for us, and may we be 
willing to sacrifice some of our time, our pleasures, 
and our means to help our fellow creatures. 

"Help us to seek opportunities of serving Thee, 
and never to neglect them when we find them. 
Make us kind, gentle and patient with all — 'in 
honor preferring one another/ 

"Bless all those for whom we are accustomed 
to pray. O God, make us more zealous. Help us 
to remember that Thou lovest a cheerful giver, and 
bring our gifts gladly to Thee. May we be ready 
to 'weep with those who weep,' and 'rejoice with 
those who rejoice.' Make us willing to put aside 
our own pleasure to do for others, remembering 
that 'even Christ pleased not Himself.' 

"Bless our beloved city. Deliver her from 
pestilence and disaster. Prosper her interests and 
industries ; but, above all, make her citizens a godly 
people, fearing and serving Thee. 

"Bless those members of the Band who may be 
absent. Bless me, Thine unworthy servant, and 
help me conduct these meetings to the pleasure and 
profit of these young girls. 

"All we ask, dear Father, is in Thy name, and 
for the sake of our dear elder Brother, Jesus 
Christ," Amen, 



80 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

KING'S DAUGHTERS' EVENING CIRCLE- 
OPENING PRAYER. 

"O God, we thank Thee for the existence of an 
organization, bound together by the ties of Chris- 
tian love and charity, without regard to sect or 
denomination, and doing Thy service in Thy name 
who died for all mankind. Grant, Our Father, we 
pray Thee, that it may be perpetuated through all 
time, and grow in numbers and usefulness. 

"Bless each individual member, and help them 
as they go forth on their errands of mercy and 
kindness, giving the cup of cold water here, the 
encouraging word there, the needed help yonder; 
to realize that in due season they shall reap if they 
faint not. 

"May they remember their watchword, and 
each kindly act and word be consecrated. Help 
them to keep ever in mind their royal birth, and 
always walk as becomes the daughters of so kingly 
a Father. 

"Make them keep very near the elder Brother, 
walking in His footsteps and imitating His most 
blessed example. 

"O God, we ask this, and all else, in Thy name, 
and for His sake who gave His blood for us." 
Amen. 

KING'S DAUGHTERS' EVENING CIRCLE- 
CLOSING PRAYER. 

Heavenly Father, send us home, we pray Thee, 
to our homes with a tenderer love for the father 
and mother whose love and sacrifices make ii pos- 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY 8l 

sible for us to enjoy so many of the good things of 
this life. 

Send us home, we beseech Thee, with a kinder 
thought for the younger members of our family, 
to make life bright and useful to them. 

Send us home, we ask Thee, with a thoughtful 
remembrance to be polite and helpful to those who 
serve us in any capacity. May we lighten their 
labor in any possible way. 

Send us home with a greater love for all man- 
kind, and a firm determination that the world shall 
be better and brighter because we live in it. We 
ask it for Jesus' sake. Amen. 



BAND OF WORKING GIRLS- 
OPENING PRAYER. 

"Oh, God, bless us of Thy children whose lines 
have fallen in busy places, and who go forth each 
day to face the battle of life, and labor for ourselves 
and our dear ones. 

"Heavenly Father, make us brave and cour- 
ageous, faithful to the interests of those who em- 
ploy us, and, above all, true to ourselves. 

"Help us to be watchful of our conduct, gentle 
in our words and unselfish in action. Make us mind- 
ful that the eyes of the worldly are upon us, seek- 
ing defects in our character, and so may we be 
jealous and careful of the honorable title we bear. 

"Be with us in all the temptations of our daily 
lives, and make us strong to resist them. 



82 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

"Help us each to improve such talents as we 
may have and use them to Thy honor and glory. 

"And, O God ! when sorrows, trials, vexations, 
or perplexities come to us, and the heart grows 
weary, be Thou our Comforter, our Guide, our Sup- 
port, our Director, and give us grave to bear what- 
ever Thou dost send as becomes Thy children. 

"Show us, O God, in our busy lives what serv- 
ice we can render Thee, and may we most gladly 
and cheerfully do Thy bidding. 

"All this we ask, dear Father, in His name 
who died for us." Amen. 

BAND OF WORKING GIRLS- 
CLOSING PRAYER. 

"Heavenly Father, as we go out from this 
sacred house give us the quietness of the sanctuary 
in our own souls ; breathe the peace of heaven upon 
us, everyone; give release from anxiety, from tor- 
menting memory, from foreboding fear; and in 
vision of better things and heavenly gladness we 
may bury sorrow and recover ourselves, and claim 
the future with all the conscious ease of strength 
divinely sustained. Let thy mercy be our inner 
day; let thy love in Christ Jesus be our secret 
thought; let Thy peace which passeth all under- 
standing guard our hearts and minds ; let Thy ten- 
derness pervade our actions; let Thy grace sustain 
us in the hour of temptation; let all Thou art to 
us, and all Thou art doing for us, make us glad 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY 83 

and grateful and true and faithful; let the Lord's 
light be on us a perpetual summer, Our Father's 
blessing be upon us a continual delight, and the 
Cross of Christ ever magnify itself above our sin, 
and the blood of Jesus Christ Thy Son ever show- 
its preciousness as applied to the sins of the soul. 
"This is our prayer, our psalm of adoration 
and thankfulness, our anthem of triumph and hope ; 
whilst we say, on earth, Amen, do Thou, in heaven, 
say Amen." 

YOUNG PEOPLE'S SOCIETIES— C. E. AND 
E. P. ETC.— OPENING PRAYER. 

"As Thy children, our dear Heavenly Father, 
we come together to Thee. We are holding this 
meeting for the sole purpose of glorifying Thee, 
to help one another so that each of us may glorify 
Thee more. Bless, Oh Lord, our leader, and endue 
him (or her) with Thy wisdom and make him (or 
her) brave because of Thy mighty Spirit within. 

"Make us, our Lord, to understand more and 
with more clearness the subject for our considera- 
tion, and give Thy words to every member of this 
Society, who shall have a part in our meeting, that 
they may be used of Thee to help us all. 

"Show us what Thou wouldst teach us for our 
daily life, during this coming week, in this medita- 
tion. 

"Show us as young people how our daily life, 
constrained by the Word of God and filled with the 
Holy Spirit, can influence our companions. 



84 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

"Show us how Thou dost long to fill each 
young life, that they may have a brighter crown up 
yonder and a more blessed life here, and how Thou 
art young even now, and canst feel in unison with 
every young heart. 

"Show us, our Lord, that Thy life within us 
is not morose, unhappy or gloomy, but Thou art 
a risen Christ, and Thy glad salutation of 'All 
hail!' can fill our hearts with brightness now and 
ever. 

"Show us the brevity of the world and worldly 
pleasures, and the eternal pleasure which are at Thy 
right hand forever more. 

"Show us that the giving up of all things for 
Thee is but a making room in our hearts for Thy 
entrance, and that Thy coming into our hearts gives 
us the supply for every need and the satisfaction 
for every true desire. 

"At this time, Our Father, meet with us in 
the power of the Spirit that we may learn more of 
the 'good and acceptable and perfect will' Thou 
hast for us, and make the message personal words 
from Thy heart to ours. 

"We ask all this in the name of Jesus." Amen. 

YOUNG PEOPLE'S SOCIETIES- 
CLOSING PRAYER. 

"Lead us forth Thyself, Our Father, from 
this place, where Thou hast spoken to us and mani- 
fested Thyself to us. We cannot live to glorify 
Thee unless Thou abide with us. 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY 85 

"We thank Thee that Thou art ever true to 
Thy promises, and Thou hast been in our midst as 
a Society of young people, and now, as we separate 
one from another, go with each one of us. 

"We thank Thee that Thou hast made it pos- 
sible by Thy Holy Spirit, not only to be with us, 
but to dwell in us — in our hearts ; that the messages 
we have heard this hour may be lived out in our 
lives. 

"Keep in our remembrance, oh Lord, the re- 
solves we have made, the steps we have taken, the 
things we have committed and the promises we 
have claimed, that we may go from grace to grace, 
from strength to strength, and from glory to glory. 

"Be present with us in every place we are 
called to go this coming week, and so strengthen 
us that we may shine for Thee always. Let us not 
be drawn away from Thy way, but lead us in the 
way everlasting. 

"We now go forth trusting in Thy ever faith- 
fulness to keep us in all our ways, to let our hands 
perform Thy bidding, and to let our feet walk in 
Thy ways. 

"When Thou dost say: 'Run, speak to that 
young man,' or anyone else, help us to do Thy bid- 
ding, and all our praise is to our Lord and our 
prayer in His dear name." Amen. 



86 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

"Y" BRANCH, W. C. T. U.— 
OPENING PRAYER. 

Dear Heavenly Father, we come to Thee as 
Thy children, bought with the blood of Jesus Christ 
Our Saviour, sanctified by Thy Holy Spirit. 

We would know to whom we belong ; we would 
see Thy signature written upon our lives ; we would 
feel Thy peace within our hearts, and Thy claim 
on us urging us by sweetest persuasion of love, to 
do some nobler deed. 

Draw us closer to Thyself; speak, as we are 
able to hear it; and when we would pray, Lord 
teach us great words to express great desires. 

Qualify us every day for broader service, for 
deeper and more loving obedience to Thy will. 

Bless with a mighty uplifting the great Cause 
to which we have promised our lives, and use us 
in it more and more every day. 

We ask it all, with forgiveness for all short- 
comings, in the blessed name of Thy Son Our 
Saviour. Amen. 

"Y" BRANCH, W. C. T. U.— 
CLOSING PRAYER. 

"We come to Thee, most blessed Heavenly 
Father, as we go from this place for a parting 
blessing. 

"We thank Thee for this lifting up of the 
heart in sacred rapture : it makes us feel Thy near- 
ness when we yield to Thy power, and it gives 
strength to our confidence when we hear the voice 
of Thy grace. Surely Thou art nigh unto them 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY 87 

that call upon Thee, and Thine hand is outstretched 
to those who put their trust in Thee. It is our joy 
to believe in Thy nearness, in the tenderness of Thy 
love, in the long-suffering of Thy patience, in the 
all-helpfulness of Thy power. 

"Speak comfortably to those whose hearts are 
sore with a bitterness they cannot explain, and come 
Thou, as Thou only canst come, to hearts that are 
bowed down in self-distrust, in utter penitence and 
contrition, and are crying for the rest than can only 
come through pardon. Send messages, sweet sing- 
ing gospels, to our loved ones at home, whether well 
or ill, but with special tenderness to those who are 
shut up in the chamber of sickness. The Lord com- 
fort those who are weak, and when heart and flesh 
do fail be Thou more than ever to the faith that 
has hung upon Thee in simple love. Double the 
joy of those who are drinking deep of gladness 
to-day, but chasten their delight lest they forget 
God. Lead, Kindly Light — go before us, Spirit of 
Peace, make us quiet with Thine own security, make 
us strong with Thine own power filled with Thine 
own Divine love, to live out the lessons we have 
learned. 

"We ask it all in Jesus' name and for His sake." 
Amen. 

JUNIOR SOCIETY— OPENING. 

Heavenly Father, we thank Thee for the com- 
ing together of the children to learn about Jesus 
and His love. 



88 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

Help us to be so quiet that we may be conscious 
that Thou art with us by the peace and joy in our 
hearts. 

We thank Thee that the children are well and 
happy and able to come to the place of prayer. 

Help them all to love to hear about Thee, to 
give their little hearts to Thee and let Thee save 
them. 

Help us to teach them how to obey their 
parents, and help mamma and be gentle with the 
little ones, and be true, honest and faithful little 
Christians. 

Help them to think of others and learn to live 
for others and not for themselves. 

We ask all for the sake of Jesus. Amen. 

JUNIOR SOCIETY— CLOSING. 

Heavenly Father, we ask Thee that Thou wilt 
help us to realize that Thou art with us as we go 
to our homes. May we remember some of the true 
things that we have heard and live them out at 
home. 

May somebody be better or happier because we 
have been here to-day. May we speak more gently 
and kindly and love others more. 

May we be thoughtful in helping others who 
are busy or in trouble. May we be kind to the poor, 
to animals, to servants, and to our brothers and 
sisters. 

May we be polite and respectful to all who are 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY 89 

older than we are, and always be thoughtful and 
reverent in the house of God. 

We ask it all that others may know that we 
love Jesus and want to love Him, too. Amen. 



go PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 



CHAPTER VII. 



SPECIAL PRAYERS. 



PRAYERS AT THE LOSS OF A RULER. 

The Prayer at President McKinley's Funeral. 
Offered by Pastor Henry R. Nay lor. 

O Lord God, our Heavenly Father, a bereaved 
nation cometh to Thee in its deep sorrow. To 
whom can we go in such an hour as this but unto 
Thee ? Thou only art able to support and comfort 
the afflicted. 

Death strikes down the tallest and best of men, 
and consequent changes are continually occurring 
among nations and communities. But we have 
been taught that Thou art the same yesterday, to- 
day and forever ; that with Thee there is no variable- 
ness nor the least shadow of turning. So in the 
midst of our grief we turn to Thee for help. 

We thank Thee, O Lord, that years ago Thou 
didst give to this nation the man whose loss we 
mourn to-day. We thank Thee for the pure and 
unselfish life he was enabled to live in the midst 
of so eventful an experience. We thank Thee for 
the faithful and distinguished services which he 
was enabled to render to Thee, to our country, and 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY 91 

to the world. We bless Thee for such a citizen, 
for such a lawmaker, for such a governor, for such 
a President, for such a husband, for such a Chris- 
tian example, and for such a friend. 

But, O Lord, we deplore our loss to-day; we 
sincerely implore Thy sanctifying benediction. We 
pray Thee for that dear one who has been walking 
by his side through the years, sharing his triumphs 
and partaking of his sorrows. Give to her all 
needed sustenance and the comfort her stricken 
heart so greatly craves. And under the shadow of 
this great calamity may she learn as never before 
the Fatherhood of God and the matchless character 
of His sustaining grace. 

And, O Lord, we sincerely pray for him upon 
whom the mantle of presidential authority has so 
suddenly and unexpectedly fallen. Help him to 
walk worthy the high vocation whereunto he has 
been called. He needs Thy guiding hand and Thine 
inspiring Spirit continually. May he always pre- 
sent to the nation and to the world a divinely 
illumined judgment, a brave heart, and an unsullied 
character. 

Hear our prayer, O God, for the official family 
of the administration, those men who are associated 
with Thy servant, the President, in the adminis- 
tration of the affairs of government ; guide them in 
all their deliberations to the nation's welfare and 
the glory of God. 

And now, Lord, we humbly pray for Thy bless- 



92 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

ing and consolation to come to all the people of our 
land and nation. Forgive our past shortcomings, 
our sins of omission as well as commission. Help 
us to make the Golden Rule the standard of our 
lives, that we may "do unto others as we would 
have them do unto us," and thus become indeed 
a people whose God is the Lord. 

These things we humbly ask in His name. 
Amen. 

The Prayer at President Lincoln! s Funeral, Of- 
fered by Pastor Stephen H. Tyng. 

O God, who art the God of the spirits of all 
flesh, in whose hand our breath is and whose are 
all our ways, in Thine infinite wisdom we bow be- 
fore Thy righteous will with deep humiliation, sub- 
mission, confidence and faith. We revere and 
acknowledge Thee as the high and lofty One who 
inhabitest eternity, whose name is Holy, with whom 
is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. We 
look up to Thee as a Father of infinite tenderness, 
reconciling us unto Thyself in Thy dear Son; and 
as a father pitieth his own children, so have com- 
passion on all them who fear Thee. We confess 
Thee as the Saviour and defence of Thy people, 
Who hast put away their sins by an infinite sacri- 
fice, and as far as the east is from the west, and 
rememberest our iniquity no more. We acknowl- 
edge Thee this day the God of all comfort and con- 
solation, Whose gracious command in Thy Word 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY 93 

is : "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your 
God; cry unto them that their warfare is accom- 
plished and their iniquity is pardoned." 

O God, we would bow with deep humility 
before the righteousness of Thy will, and with 
unfeigned gratitude acknowledge the fullness 
of Thy grace. A mourning and bereaved people 
gather together at Thy feet; we would come with 
the deepest feeling of thankfulness for all the influ- 
ence, example, wisdom, and fidelity of the loved and 
exalted ruler whom Thou didst set over us. We 
praise Thee that Thou hast made him the instru- 
ment of saving this nation from overthrow and ruin 
— that Thou hast made him Thine agent in sub- 
duing a rebellion terrific and atrocious, whose con- 
demnation is recorded by Thee. We bless Thee 
that Thou hast spoken peace by him to the op- 
pressed and suffering, proclaiming liberty to those 
held in bondage, and bidding millions of the help- 
less and despairing lift up their heads with joy 
among Thy people. 

We thank Thee for the remembrance of all 
his fidelity in government, ruling in equity as the 
morning which ariseth without a cloud, and for all 
that meekness, gentleness, faithfulness and love, so 
attractive and so conspicuous in his example. And 
while with the deepest sense of our loss we bow, as 
bereaved and mourning ones at Thy feet, with the 
most humble thankfulness for all that the nation 
has gained through his instrumentality and faith- 



94 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

fulness, we adore and glorify Thy name. We meet 
throughout this land to-day in the spirit of accord- 
ant supplication and praise. 

We implore Thy blessing upon this whole 
nation, that this chastisement, painful and mysteri- 
ous as it appears, may be Thine instrument for 
uniting this people in bonds of fellowship and love, 
and bringing the hearts of all in full accord in the 
support of the government which Thou hast set 
over us, and in seeking the things which make for 
peace and the things whereby one may edify an- 
other. We pray that in the midst of Thy judgments 
this whole nation may learn righteousness. 

We implore Thy gracious blessing upon the 
sorrowing and the suffering, upon the wounded and 
the bereaved, who have given their joy on earth, 
their health in early life, as a service and a sacrifice 
for their fidelity to us and their obedience to Thee. 

We unite in supplication for Thy blessing upon 
the widow and fatherless, who stood in the tender- 
est relations to our honored and exalted ruler, and 
while from them, as from us, Thou hast hidden 
lover and friend in darkness, we implore Thee to 
be the everlasting ruler of this people and make 
them to remember and feel that the Most High 
ordereth all things among the nations of the earth, 
putting down one and setting up another. 

We implore Thy blessing upon him whom, in 
Thine own providence, Thou hast exalted to be 
the present ruler of the nation. Guard his valued 



PRIVATE DEVOTION", PERSONAL MINISTRY 95 

life from outward violence and from fear of wrong ; 
guide him by Thine own wisdom and judgment, 
and succor and defend him by Thine own protecting 
power. Give him wise and faithful counsellors who 
shall combine to rule this people in equity and 
truth; prosper all their efforts for a speedy, stable 
and righteous peace throughout this nation. O 
God, in the sorrow of this day, hasten the coming 
hour when this people shall desire to learn war no 
more ; when they shall speak peace to all the nations 
of the earth, and North and South, East and 
West, dwelling in concord and harmony, we shall 
be one people, known by one name and feeling, and 
that w r e have one interest forever. 

Set up Thy glorious gospel through all this 
land ; make it Emmanuel's land ; and as Thou wast 
our fathers' God, be Thou our God and the God 
of our seed afterward, from generation to genera- 
tion, through successive Presidents of fidelity, use- 
fulness and honor ; that this people may be a pros- 
pered people, a thankful people, a useful people, 
a holy people, under Thy government and by Thy 
blessing. And this day we ask for all the nations 
of the earth a dominion of righteousness and peace 
— Thine everlasting dominion — may be set up, and 
the kingdom of the world may become the kingdom 
of our Lord and of His Christ. Amen. 

PRAYER IN TIME OF PUBLIC CALAMITY. 

"Almighty God, the Father of mercies and 
the God of all consolation, our only help in time 



96 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

of need, we flee unto Thee for succor in this season 
of tribulation and distress. Out of the depths we 
call unto Thee, O Lord. O let Thine ears consider 
the voice of our complaint. 

"We acknowledge, O God, that for our iniqui- 
ties we are visited and for our sins we are troubled. 
And if Thou shouldest be extreme to mark what 
we have done amiss, our present sorrows would only 
be the beginning of sorrows which should know no 
end. 

"Thou afflictest us to humble us, and to prove 
us, and to know what is in our hearts, and to see 
whether we will loye Thee and keep Thy command 
no. 

"Give us grace, therefore, to consider, in this 
day of our adversity, wherefore Thou contendest 
with us. Let us not despise Thy chastening, nor 
faint when we are rebuked of Thee, nor be weary of 
Thy correction. Let us be still, and know that 
Thou art God. In patience enable us to possess our 
souls. Grant that our tribulation may work patience, 
and patience experience, and experience hope; and 
our hope, let it not make ashamed, but let Thy love 
be shed abroad in our hearts, through the Holy 
Spirit given unto us. Let us not cast away our 
confidence which hath great recompense of reward. 
Though troubled on every side, let us not be dis- 
tressed ; though perplexed, let us not be in despair ; 
though cast down, let us not be destroyed. And 
be pleased to cause our light affliction, which is 



^PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY. 97 

but for a moment, to work out for us a far more 
exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we 
look not at the things that are seen, but at the 
things w r hich are not seen; for the things which 
are seen are temporal, but the things which are not 
seen are eternal. Though no chastening for the 
present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous, yet 
afterward let it yield the peaceable fruit of 
righteousness unto us who are now exercised 
thereby." 

Teach us all the lessons Thou wouldst have 
us learn from this affliction, and then graciously, 
entirely and quickly remove this (plague, epidemic, 
scourge, drought or whatever the affliction may 
be). 

Comfort the hearts that mourn; restore those 
who are ill and suffering, help those who are 
tempted to despair, turn the curse into a blessing 
unto every one of us because Thou dost love us. 

We ask it because Thou Thyself has taught 
us that in all our afflictions Thou art afflicted, and 
Thou dost love to deliver Thy people for the sake 
of Thine own beloved Son who died for us. Amen. 

PRAYER FOR THE LOVE THAT 
KEEPS THE LAW— Ex. 20 : 3-17. 

I. "Remove, O God, all irreligion and pro- 
faneness, superstition and hypocrisy, false and un- 
worthy conceits of Thee. And, of Thy goodness, 
give us grace constantly to serve and please Thee, 



98 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

in reverence and godly fear, in worthy apprehen- 
sions of, and a rational obedience to, Thee. 

II. "Keep us from all image worship and 
idolatry. May all bodily adoration and all spiritual 
worship be confined to Thee. 

III. "Keep us from perjury and vanity, curses 
and bitter imprecations. May we swear not at 
all. May our yea be yea and our nay, nay. Keep 
us in truth, and cautious conversation, in blessings, 
intercessions and good wishes. 

IV. "Keep us from neglect of public worship, 
irreverence in Thy house, abuse of the times set 
apart for Thy service. May we be diligent in at- 
tendance at religious assemblies, in devotion and 
decency, and exemplary zeal, through every part of 
Thy service; and conscientious in improving the 
time set apart for religious exercise. 

V. "Keep us from pride and disobedience, 
faction and schism, unnatural coldness to relations 
and inordinate love of self. May we be dutiful in 
demeanor and submission to superiors. May we 
live in peace and unity, with regard to Church and 
State ; in tender affection to kindred and allies. 

VI. "May we never know fierceness and con- 
tention, malice and cruelty, anger or revenge. But 
may we be gentle, meek, patient and forgiving. 

VII. "Keep us from lust and uncleanliness in 
deed, word or thought. Keep us in chastity and 
sobriety, in modest behavior and irreproachable dis- 
course, and in moderate use of pleasures, even those 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY 99 

that are innocent and lawful. 

VIII. "Keep us from idleness and extrava- 
gance, dishonesty and fraud. May we be frugal, 
industrious, just, conscientious, contented and com- 
passionate to the poor. 

IX. "Keep us from false testimony and lying, 
reviling and slandering, censuring and causeless 
suspicion. Keep us in truth and integrity, good 
nature and candor, and a charity that believes and 
hopes, and always speaks the best. 

X. "Keep us from all corrupt and impure 
imaginations, all ungoverned and unbecoming de- 
sires. Keep us in moderate and virtuous affections, 
holy and clean imaginations, and perseverance in 
good works." 

May we remember Christ's new commandment : 
"Love one another as I have loved you." Jno. 

13:34. 

May we remember that Thou dost say: "Love 
is the fulfilling of the law," and now receive the 
Spirit of love to drive out all evil propensities and 
bring in with Himself the love that worketh no 
ill to his neighbor, but "suffereth long and is kind, 
envieth not, vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 
doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her 
own, is not provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth 
not with iniquity, but rejoiceth with the truth; bear- 
eth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, 
endureth all things, and never faileth." 

For Jesus' sake. Amen. 



IOO PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 



CHAPTER VIII. 



FAMILY PRAYERS. 



MORNING. 

"Almighty God! we desire to approach Thy 
sacred presence, blessing and praising Thy Holy 
name, that Thou hast again in the multitude of 
Thy mercies permitted us to see the light of another 
day of the Son of man. This is the day which the 
Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. 
Draw Thou near to us as we draw near to Thee. 
Inspirer of all good thoughts ! do Thou preoccupy 
our souls with Thyself. May we walk all the day 
under the sunshine of Thy gracious countenance, 
and experience the blessedness of filial nearness to 
our covenant God and Father in Christ. 

"Thy favor is life. Compared with this, all 
other happiness is shadowy and vain. Nothing 
but the conscious possession of Thine own infinite 
love can satisfy the longings of our immortal 
spirits. Whom have we in the heavens, O God, 
but Thee; and there is none in all the earth that 
our souls would desire beside Thee. 

"We draw near to Thy footstool, under a deep 
sense of our unworthiness. We reflect with shame 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY IOI 

and confusion of face on unrequited love, on re- 
jected kindness, on resisted warnings, on unim- 
proved providences. For Jesus' sake, have Thou 
mercy upon us. We bring our guilt to the great 
propitiation. We bring the burden to the Lamb 
of God, who taketh away the sin of the world. 

"We disown all other grounds of confidence — 
all other plea for mercy. We would stake our 
eternal all on the everliving and exalted Redeemer ! 
Seal to us a sense of pardon. Give us the renewed 
pledge that Thou art loving us with an everlasting 
love. May we see this day Thy glory, as we have 
seen Thee heretofore within Thy Holy Temple. 
May we be enabled to pitch our tents near the gate 
of Heaven. May our manifold privileges issue in 
our more complete sanctification. May we attain 
greater heavenly mindedness, greater weanedness 
from earth, greater singleness of eye to Thy glory. 
May every temporal mercy which gladdens our lot 
be sweetened and hallowed, and endeared by the 
thought that it comes to us through Jesus. May 
blessings and trials, comforts and crosses, health 
and sickness, joy and sorrow, bring us only nearer 
to Him, and redound to the glory of His great 
name. Subdue whatever is inconsistent with His 
mind and will. Put a sanctified restraint on our 
thoughts; repress all vain imaginations; crucify 
every lingering sin. May our hearts become holy 
temples, and our lives living sacrifices. May the 
incense and fragrance of a sanctified walk and obe- 



102 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP, 

dience be known and seen of all men. Fit us for 
glory. Let our eye be ever upward, and heaven- 
ward, and Godward. Let eternity exercise a more 
commanding influence over us. May we grow in 
more meek and child-like submission to our 
Heavenly Father's will. Breathing a perpetual 
Sabbath spirit on earth, may we be fitted for that 
rest which shall never be broken, which awaits us 
in the Kingdom of the Redeemed. 

"We pray for all who are to minister to us 
this day. Give them an unction from the Holy 
One. May they be valiant for the Truth. May they 
hide themselves behind an exalted Saviour; and 
may every impression on the minds of those who 
hear, be rendered permanent and saving. Bless us, 
even us, O God, who are now surrounding Thy 
footstool. As Thou hast knitted us together in the 
same earthly ties, do Thou unite us in the better 
bonds of the everlasting convenant. Make us all par- 
takers of the resurrection-life of Thy people. 

"We pray for the poor, the afflicted, the be- 
reaved, and the dying. O Thou comforter of all 
that are cast down, do Thou heal their sorrows, bind 
up their wounds. To the friendless, do Thou prove 
a friend. In the multitude of their thoughts within 
them, may Thy comforts delight their souls. 

"We commend our friends, and all belonging to 
us, implicitly to Thy Sovereign care. Undertake 
Thou for them. May the pillar of Thy presence 
go continually before them. 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY t IO3 

"We commit ourselves to Thy care. May the 
Lord God this day be to us a sun and shield. May 
the Lord give grace and glory, and withhold from 
us nothing that He sees to be truly good. And all 
that we ask is for Jesus' sake." Amen. 

EVENING. 

"Heavenly Father ! we desire to close this, Thy 
holy day, with Thee. As the shadows of night are 
falling around us, do Thou, the Unsetting Sun of our 
Souls, be near us — dispersing all the darkness of sin, 
and giving us the inner sunshine of Thy presence 
and love. May the Holy Spirit of love be manifested 
throughout the week, hallowing, sanctifying, and 
pervading all its duties. 

"May Thy love reign paramount ; may there be no 
competing affection ; may we show by our holy lives, 
and unselfish feelings, and consistent walk, that we 
have been imbibing deeply of the Saviour's Spirit. 
Take these unworthy hearts — sanctify and seal them 
for Thyself; make them Thine only, and Thine 
wholly, and Thine forever. May w r e be clothed 
with the armor of righteousness on the right hand 
and on the left ; may we exercise a jealous eye on our 
daily avocations, lest things temporal should exer- 
cise an engrossing power to the exclusion of things 
eternal. May it be our grand aim to be progressing 
in the Divine life. 

"We pray for a world lying in wickedness. 
Save Thy people, bless Thine inheritance, feed them 



104 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

also, and lift them up forever. Bless abundantly 
of the preaching of Thy Holy Word. Glorify Thy- 
self in the salvation of sinners. May the stout- 
hearted tremble ; may He whom they persecute meet 
them in the way. May Thy ministering servants be 
made strong by the hands of the Mighty God of 
Jacob; may the bows which this day have been 
drawn at a venture carry the arrows of conviction 
to many hearts; may we all feel that this Sabbath 
must have solemn bearings on our eternity. 

"We entreat Thee to take under Thy merciful 
protection this night all our beloved friends. It is 
our privilege to bring them in prayer to Thee. 
Though unable to meet under the same tabernacle, 
it is our comfort to know that no distance can es- 
trange from Thee. We commend both present and 
absent ones to the gracious Shepherd of Israel. Be 
Thou to them all, as the shadow of a rock in a 
weary land. 

"Draw near to the sons and daughters of sor- 
row. Give them everlasting consolation and good 
hope, through grace. Let them bow to Thy will. 
Let them see no hand in their trials but Thine ; say- 
ing, in lowly submissiveness, with regard to all crea- 
ture comforts — the Lord gave, and the Lord hath a 
sovereign right to take them all away. 

"We thank Thee for Thy many mercies still 
vouchsafed to us. Watch over us during this 
night. Grant us the sleep of Thy beloved. 
When we awake may we still be with Thee. 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY IO5 

And all that we ask, is in the name and for the sake 
of Him, whom Thou hearest always, and to whom 
with Thee, the Father, and Thee, O Eternal 
Spirit, one God, be ascribed all blessing, and honor, 
and glory, and praise, world without end." Amen. 

MORNING. 

"Almighty God ! we desire on this morning of 
a new day, to approach the footstool of Thy Throne 
of grace. Thou art glorious in Thy holiness, fear- 
ful in praises, continually doing wonders. Thine 
eternity is a depth which no finite mind can fathom. 
Thy purposes no accident can alter — Thy love no 
time can impair. We adore Thee as the God of our 
life ; moment by moment we are hanging upon Thy 
goodness; if Thou withdrawest Thy hand we per- 
ish. 

"And yet, O Lord, we have not been living 
habitually mindful of Thee. We have too often 
taken our blessings as matters of course. We have 
had unthankful spirits in the midst of daily recurring 
tokens of unmerited mercy. We desire to bury our 
sins in the ocean-depths of Thy love. May we be 
enabled to advance in holiness as we follow the foot- 
steps of Thine unsullied life — to reflect Thy purity. 
May religion penetrate with its leavening power 
every daily duty. May we act under the feeling 'we 
are not our own' — Consecrated soul and body to the 
Lord who died for us, may life become one tribute 
and offering to Thy praise. May we leave nothing 



106 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP, 

to a dying hour, but to die at peace with Thee, and 
to have our souls filled with hopes of Heaven. 

"Lord bless our friends — reward our bene- 
factors — forgive our enemies. May our household 
ever have Thy gracious benediction resting upon it. 
May every member of our family, near and at a dis- 
tance, have the seal of God on their foreheads, and 
be numbered with Thy saints in glory everlasting. 
Pour Thy rich grace into the hearts of the young. 
Oh let them not suffer golden moments to pass by 
misimproved. Preserve them from the snares of a 
wicked world. Let them know the happiness of liv- 
ing at peace with Thee. 

"Look in kindness on the sick, the sorrowful, 
the aged, the bereaved, and the dying. Accommo- 
date Thy grace to the varied wants and trials. Let 
them take refuge in the very arms that are chastising 
them, rejoicing that the thread of life is in Thy 
hands. 

"Lord Jesus, bless our friends that are absent ; 
Lord be near them — Those that are in distress, Lord 
comfort them. Those that know Thee not, Lord ar- 
rest them. Those that are Thy children, do Thou in- 
crease their devotedness; give them more of the 
Pilgrim character, prepare them for the Pilgrim's 
rest. Prosper Thy cause and kingdom everywhere. 
Let Satan's kingdom be destroyed — the kingdom of 
grace advanced — the kingdom of glory hastened. 
Save thy people — bless Thine inheritance, feed them 
also, and lift them up forever ! Give to each of us 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY IO7 

this day Thy gracious benediction; and when the 
days of Earth shall merge into the ages of Eternity, 
may it be ours to spend them in the full vision and 
fruition of Thee, our God, through Jesus Christ." 
Amen. 

EVENING. 

"O Lord, our Heavenly Father, by whose good 
providence we are spared from day to day, — enable 
us to come this night into Thy sacred presence, with 
hearts filled with gratitude and thankfulness for all 
Thy mercies, and deeply humbled on account of our 
own unworthiness. 

"Adorable Redeemer, we flee anew under the 
covert of Thy wings — we take refuge anew in the 
clefts of the Smitten Rock; — hide us there from 
that wrath and everlasting condemnation, which we 
have justly merited. 

"Oh what encouragement we have to trust 
Thy atoning grace and love. What a Saviour-God 
art Thou ! — the feeblest of the flock — tended, guid- 
ed, guarded by Thee. We can fear no evil when 
Thou art with us. The roughest part of the wilder- 
ness will become smooth if the Shepherd be at our 
side. We rejoice to think that Thou art choosing 
our pasture for us. All is meted out — arranged — 
provided for. The thread of life is in Thy hands. 
All that concerns us and ours is at Thy disposal. 
Infinite wisdom and love are pledged to see to it, 
that all is the best and for the best. Give us lowli- 



108 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

ness and gentleness of heart. May self be crucified 
and Jesus exalted — may we be moulded after His 
blessed image — may existence become one life-long 
consecration to His service — may we feel that to be 
holy is to be happy — that to be with God is the lofti- 
est joy of which our natures are susceptible. To be 
with God, and like God, is the happiness of angels — 
may it be ours in part here, and in full fruition here- 
after. 

"Bless all the family of the afflicted. The God 
of all consolation, bind up their wounds. Keep 
them from a hasty spirit, under dark dispensations. 
Let them know and believe that infinite love is in all 
Thine arrangements, that finite wisdom has no place 
in Thy dealings, that He with whom they have to do, 
cannot do wrong. Lord, give us all this lowly spirit 
of submission to Thy will. Whether Thou chasten 
us, or gladden us, whether prosperity or adversity 
be our portion, oh, bring us nearer Thee. May Thy 
dealings serve to trim the lamp of faith and keep it 
brightly burning. We ask for Jesus' sake." Amen. 

MORNING. 

"Our Heavenly Father, we come to ask as a 
family that this day Thou wilt work in us to will 
and to do of Thy good pleasure. 

"Whatever be the discipline Thou employest to 
fit us for this, may we meekly submit to it. May we 
watch all Thy varied teachings and get profit and 
sanctification out of it all — all bringing us nearer 
Heaven and nearer Thee. 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY IO9 

"Bless this household — unite us as a family in 
bonds of holy love. May the blood of the everlast- 
ing covenant be sprinkled on the portals of every 
heart. We commend our children to Thy care, be- 
seeching Thee early to instil the dew of Thy grace 
into their hearts; give them each a niche in Thy 
Holy temple; preserve them from all danger and 
sin; may they be Thine on that day when Thou 
makest up Thy jewels. Bless our President, bless 
all rulers, and judges and senators, may they be a 
terror to evil doers, and a praise to them that do 
well. Bless the ministers of the everlasting Gospel, 
may they be workmen needing not to be ashamed. 
Whatever our station in life may be may we seek 
to do something for the glory of Thy holy name, 
and feel that Thy service is self-rewarding and self- 
recompensing. Give us grace to work while it is 
called to-day. May our loins be girded and our 
lights burning, may we live as servants who are 
waiting for their Lord when He returns from the 
wedding, that when He cometh and knocketh, we 
may be ready to open to Him immediately. May we 
be found prepared to wake up in Thy likeness at the 
day-break of glory, found of Thy dear Son, in peace, 
without spot and blameless. And all that we ask is 
for the sake of Him whom Thou hearest always, 
and to whom, with Thee, the Father, and Thee, O 
blessed Spirit, one God, be everlasting praise, honor, 
and glory, world without end." Amen. 



IIO PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

EVENING. 

"We come at the close of another day to confess 
our shortcomings. We have been too forgetful of 
Thy dear Son. We have not been remembering as 
we ought, that but for Him and His wondrous 
grace we must have perished everlastingly. We 
have not felt as we ought the attractive power of 
His cross. Other lords have had dominion over us. 
The love which ought to have reigned paramount 
has been displaced and superseded by other affec- 
tions. We have been minding earthly things; we 
have been defying earthly pleasures and earthly 
passions ; careful, and troubled and concerned, 
about what will perish with the using ! 

"We mourn the feebleness of our faith, the fit- 
fulness of our love, the mingled motives in our 
holiest duties. We come anew, casting ourselves 
on the infinite fulness of our adorable Redeemer. 
Give us out of His inexhaustible treasury, even 
grace for grace. Let us walk as Thy children, ad- 
vancing in conformity to Thy blessed mind and 
will. Let us not only be jealous of losing what we 
have, but may we be covetous of greater spiritual 
attainments — laying aside every weight, and running 
with patience the race that is set before us. 

"May we see that it is no light matter to sin 
against God, and to be living in daily unconcern of 
His great mercies, and flee to a waiting and willing 
Redeemer, who is waiting to be gracious. All the 
mighty load of our guilt we transfer to this adorable 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY III 

Surety. He has already borne it all. He has satis- 
fied all the holy requirements of Thy righteous law. 
As our Kinsman and Elder Brother He is now with- 
in the veil as willing as He ever was to save to the 
uttermost. 

"While we look to Him as the Lord our 
righteousness, may we know Him also as the Lord 
our strength. May we imbibe more of His blessed 
Spirit. May we be learners at His feet — learning 
to deny ourselves — to bear all that He chooses, with- 
out a murmuring word. Blessed Jesus ! Thou hast 
all art all and canst do all for us. Be Thou every- 
thing to us — and everything for us — and every- 
thing in us, For Jesus' sake." Amen. 



112 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP, 



CHAPTER HE. 



SPECIAL DAYS. 



NEW YEAR'S MORNING. 

"We humbly ask, dear Master, 
That our New Year gift may be, 
All meaner things forsaking, 
Rich fellowship with Thee. 
Our hearts at rest and tranquil, 
Thy blessed will our own, 
Until we know Thee fully 
In Thy eternal home." 

O Heavenly Father, our hearts swell with grat- 
itude to Thee for permitting us to greet this, the 
first day of another year. 

With regret we parted with the old year, so full 
of eventful experiences. We would it had lingered 
longer. We regret the stains we made upon its 
once spotless pages. But in Thy inestimable wis- 
dom, time must move on and wait for none to undo 
the foolishness of mis-spent lives. In the year flown 
we made our record. What is written is written. 
If evil, unrepented, it will face us at the Great 
Judgment Day unless effaced by the Blood of Jesus 
— which cleaneth from all sin. 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY II3 

But need our enjoyment of the New Year be 
destroyed by sad recollections of the old ? No, Lord, 
when Thou hast said, "I have heard thee in a time 
accepted, and in the day of salvation have I suc- 
cored thee; behold, now is the accepted time; be- 
hold now is the day of salvation." 

Thanks to Thy name ; this first day of the New 
Year is Thy accepted time and shall be our day of 
salvation. 

We surrender to Thee now, our minds, our 
hearts, our being, beseeching Thee to accept them 
to be used in any way in our varied stations in 
life, as Thou canst, to Thy honor and glory. For- 
bid that this surrender of our evil affections and am- 
bitions to Thee, be other than a deep seated resolve 
of our lives, which shall be remembered, felt, and 
continued through every day of the year. 

May we learn to so value the time which Thou 
dost graciously add to our probation, so that we may 
greet with gladness and thanksgiving to Thee, the 
coming of each new day of this New Year, as 
thankfully as we now step out and face the New 
Year. "So teach us to number our days that we 
may apply our hearts unto wisdom." For as Thy 
servant has said, "Our years will be as a tale that is 
told/' 

But, O Lord, we have more reason for gladness 
than sadness on this suggestive day. Thou so open- 
est our vision, inspireth us with Thy Holy Spirit, 
that we see successes in the days to come outnumber- 



114 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

ing the failures of the days gone by. We see our- 
selves "anointed with the oil of gladness," rather 
than afflicted in our souls, with heads bowed down 
as a bulrush. 

We see Thy three dear handmaids Faith, Hope 
and Charity, walking with us all through the year, 
because of Thine own abiding presence with us, and 
the love of Jesus shed abroad in our hearts at this 
moment, which we accept, never more to let depart, 
by Thy grace and help. 

O God, we close our petition by earnestly ask- 
ing Thee to help us to flee evil things during this 
next New Year; and follow after righteousness, 
godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness; and to 
fight the good fight of faith, laying hold on the life 
eternal, wherewith Thou hast called us, having pro- 
fessed a good profession before many witnesses. 
And grace be with us all to the end. Amen. 

EASTER MORNING. 

"Oh let me know 
The power of Thy resurrection; 

Oh let me show 
Thy risen life in calm and clear reflection; 

Oh let me soar 
Where Thou, my Saviour Christ art gone before; 

In mind and heart 
Let me dwell always, only, where Thou art. 

Oh let me give 
Out of the gifts Thou freely givest; 

Oh let me live 
With life abundantly, because Thou livest; 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY 115 

Oh make me shine 
In darkest places, for Thy light is mine; 

Oh let me be 
A faithful witness for Thy truth and Thee. 

Oh let me show 
The strong reality of gospel story; 

Oh let me go 
From strength to strength, from glory unto glory; 

Oh let me sing 
For very joy, because Thou art my King; 

Oh let me praise 
Thy love and faithfulness through all my days." 

EASTER EVENING. 

"O let our lips a gladder message bear! 
O let our lives a sweeter fragrance wear ! 
For we in Him — 

Our risen Head — 
Are risen now, 
Our sins are dead. 
With resurrection-garments, pure and white, 
We walk henceforth as children of the light." 

THANKSGIVING MORNING. 

Oh, most blessed Heavenly Father, we adore 
Thee, we magnify Thee, we rejoice in Thee, we 
praise Thy Holy name, we lift up our hearts in glad 
Thanksgiving this morning for all the mercies and 
blessings of the past year. 

We thank Thee that everything Thou hast per- 
mitted to come into our lives shall work together for 
our good for we love Thee. 

We thank Thee that during the year neither 
plague nor pestilence has come nigh our dwelling. 



Il6 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

Thou hast given the angels charge over us to keep 
us in all Thy ways. Thou hast preserved our lives 
and supplied all our needs, and taught us precious 
lessons, and given us a strong desire to follow after 
righteousness. 

We thank Thee for a bountiful harvest, and for 
freedom from famine; for home and friends and 
comforts ; for health and hope and heavenly aspira- 
tions; for many tokens of Thy favor and oppor- 
tunities of service. 

May we gladden Thy heart of love as we offer 
to Thee just now a song of Thanksgiving. 



"For mercy without measure, 
For love's unceasing flow, 
For all of God's good pleasure 
That marks our path below, 

"For gifts like snowflakes falling, 
By which our lives are blest; 
For words the weary calling 
To peace and joy and rest; 

"For hope in time of sorrow, 

That spanned the darksome cloud; 
For thought of brighter morrow 
That cheered the night's deep shroud; 

"For grace o'er sin abounding, 

For each temptation slain, 
For angel hosts surrounding, 
Who constant watch maintain: 



PRIVATE DEVOTION., PERSONAL MINISTRY 117 

"For Marah's wondrous healing. 
For Elim's wells, and shade., 
For strength vouchsafed when kneeling, 
Our prayer to God we made; 

"For all with glad thanksgiving 
Our Father Thee we greet; 
While day by day thanksliving 
Shall be our incense sweet." Amen. 



THANKSGIVING EVENING. 

"Oh, eternal, everlasting God, fountain of all 
happiness, God of all grace, we desire to acknowl- 
edge with grateful hearts Thine undeserved mercies. 
Thou hast made our cup to overflow with blessings. 
From the very threshold of our being, Thou hast 
been our Protector and Guardian — Thou hast shield- 
ed us from unknown dangers — Thou hast warded 
off unseen calamities — Thou hast exempted us from 
bitter trials — no earthly friend could have loved 
us and cared for us like Thee — we are the monu- 
ments of a kindness as amazing as it is undeserved. 
"We acknowledge our sins. We have not been 
exhibiting a holy consistency of w r alk and conversa- 
tion — we have not been declaring before the world 
that as for us and our house we will serve the Lord. 
Thy word has not been prized as it ought. The 
flame of love and devotion has not burned brightly 
on the domestic altar as it ought. The leaven of 
vital godliness has not been pervading with its hal- 
lowed influences our engagements, occupations, and 



Il8 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

duties. We have not done what we might have done 
for Thee. 

"Give us grace this day, while we mourn the 
past, humbly, but earnestly, to resolve to live more 
devotedly to Thee in the future. Accept of our 
unworthy confessions for Jesus' sake. Sprinkle 
these guilty hearts with His precious blood. Let us 
seek in all time to come to walk before Thee in 
holiness and righteousness of life to the glory of 
Thy name. 

"We commend ourselves and all belonging to 
us to Thy care and keeping. 

"Give us all grace to trust Thee implicitly even 
when Thy dealings cross our own purposes and 
frustrate our wills. Thou lovest us too well to let 
us have our own way. Let us know no will but 
Thine — following Thy guiding footsteps, may we 
say, 'The Lord is our Shepherd, we shall not want/ 
Watch over us, blessed Lord, this night. May Thy 
good angels encamp round about us. Give us re- 
freshing sleep, even the sleep of Thy beloved ; may 
we lie down to rest in Thy fear, and awake in Thy 
favor to the duties of a new day with our minds 
stayed on God. 

"And unto Thy great name, Father, Son, and 
Holy Spirit, we ascribe blessing, honor, and praise, 
as we offer Thee a song of Thanksgiving. 

"For all Thou dost in mercy send, 
For health and children, home and friends; 
For comfort in time of need, 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY, II9 

For every kindly word and deed, 
For happy thoughts and holy talk, 
For guidance in the daily walk; 
For everything we thank Thee. 

"For beauty in this world of ours, 
For verdant grass and lovely flowers; 
For song of birds, for hum of bees, 
For the refreshing summer breeze; 
For hill and plain, for stream and wood, 
For the great ocean's mighty flood; 
For everything we thank Thee. 

"For the sweet sleep which comes with night, 
For the returning morning light; 
For the bright sun that shine on high, 
For the stars glittering in the sky; 
For these and everything we see, 
O Lord ! our hearts we lift to Thee ; 

For everything we thank Thee." Amen 

CHRISTMAS MORNING. 

"Almighty and everlasting God, the Father of 
our Lord Jesus Christ, we desire on this sacred anni- 
versary to draw near, in His name, to Thy holy foot- 
stool. Our souls would magnify the Lord — our 
spirits would rejoice in God our Saviour; for he 
that is mighty hath done great things, and holy is 
His name. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for 
He hath visited and redeemed His people, and hath 
raised up for us an horn of salvation in the house of 
His servant David. 

"We look back with devoutest gratitude and 
joy to that memorable night when the angels ap- 



120 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

peared over the Plains of Bethlehem, proclaiming 
that the promised Child was born, the promised 
Saviour was given — that through Him, while glory 
was secured to God in the highest, peace was pro- 
claimed on earth and good will to the children of 
men. We adore the amazing condescension which 
brought the Lord of life and of glory from His 
Throne in Heaven to that manger of humiliation; 
'God over all/ dwelling in union with an infant 
of days ! 

"We desire this morning to present ourselves 
before the Holy Child Jesus, like the wise men of 
old, with the gold and frankincense and myrrh of 
our best affections and deepest love. Had it not 
been for this inconceivable stoop from the infinite 
to the finite, where would we have been this day? 
Well may we join in the angelic song, and say 
'Glory! eternal glory be to God in the highest for 
His best — His unspeakable gift, without which not 
one ray of hope or joy could have visited our 
doomed world!' As we gather in thought around 
His unhonored cradle, may our souls rise in lively 
gratitude to Him who spared not His only Son, but 
freely gave Him up to the death for us all. We 
will sing unto the Lord a new song for He hath done 
marvellous things ; His right hand and His holy arm 
have gotten Him the victory. Thanks be unto God 
who giveth us the victory through the Lord Jesus 
Christ. 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY 121 

"May we seek by holy, righteous, and consistent 
lives — by holy living and holy walking — to show 
that we are not insensible of all His unmerited love 
and kindness. May every thought and affection, 
and feeling, and temper, be brought into captivity 
to the obedience of Jesus. May we love what He; 
loves and hate what He hates. May we know the 
happiness of true holiness, and experience somewhat 
of the joy of angels, in doing Thy holy will on earth 
as they do it in Heaven. Fill us with all joy and 
peace in believing, that we may abound in hope 
through the power of the Holy Ghost. 

"We pray for a whole world. Pity the nations 
that are sunk in heathen darkness. Hasten the 
Pentecostal effusion of the latter day. When the 
enemy is coming in like a flood, may the Spirit of 
God lift up a standard to resist him. Bless all Thy 
faithful missionaries. In lands where Christian 
sanctuaries are not, be Thou a little sanctuary to all 
Thy true servants — may they feel that the pleasure 
of the Lord is prospering in their hands — may they 
be the honored instruments in preparing many gems 
for Immanuel's crown. Direct their hearts into Thy 
love, and into the patient waiting for Christ. 

"We pray for the afflicted — lead them this day 
to Bethlehem's manger and Bethlehem's Saviour — 
show them all that He was willing to do for them, 
and may this reconcile them to bear patiently what- 
ever trial He may see meet to appoint. 



122 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

"We praise Thee with all saints, for Thy Christ- 
mas gifts to the world. 

"For all darkness — Jesus light; 
For all feebleness — His might; 
For all faultiness — His grace; 
For earth's frowns — His smiling face. 

"For all doubts — the Truth of God; 
For all sin — Christ's precious blood; 
For all pain — His pity's dower; 
For all falls — His raising power. 

"For all conflicts — Jesus peace; 
For earths chains — His sweet release; 
For all poverty — His store; 
And Himself for evermore/' Amen. 

CHRISTMAS EVENING. 

"O Holy and merciful God, who wrought out 
redemption for us and sent Thy Son into the world 
not to condemn the world, but that the world 
through Him might be saved. 

"We bless Thee for revealing to us this great 
mystery, which was hid from ages and generations, 
but is now made manifest unto the sons of men. 

"We rejoice that unto us was born, as on this 
day, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. Our souls 
do magnify the Lord and our spirits rejoice in God 
our Saviour. Hosanna to the Son of David ! Blessed 
be He that cometh in the name of the Lord ! Hosan- 
na in the highest ! 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY I23 

"Praised be thy name for sending forth in the 
fulness of time Thy only begotten Son, made of a 
woman, made under the law, that we might receive 
the adoption of sons. Glory be unto Thee for caus- 
ing Thy loving kindness toward us to appear. Not 
by works of righteousness which we have done, but 
according to Thy mercy Thou hast saved us. 

"O Thou who wast in Christ reconciling the 
world unto Thyself, not imputing their trespasses 
unto them, forgive us all our trespasses. Through 
Him who was made in the likeness of sinful flesh, 
and come to seek and to save that which was lost, 
have mercy upon us. By the mystery of His holy 
incarnations and nativity good Lord, deliver us. 
Let the same mind also be in us which was 
in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of 
God, and thinking it not robbery to be equal with 
God, yet made Himself of no reputation, and took 
upon Him the form of a servant, and was found in 
fashion as a man, a man of sorrows and acquainted 
with grief. Help us continually to follow the ex- 
ample of His great humility. And give us grace 
so to walk in all holiness of living, that we may not 
be ashamed before Him at His coming. 

"O Thou great and glorious Redeemer, who art 
wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlast- 
ing Father, the Prince of Peace, we praise Thee, we 
bless Thee, we worship Thee, we glorify Thee, we 
give thanks to Thee for Thy great glory, O Lord 
God, Lamb of God, the only begotten Son Jesus 



124 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

Christ, God of God, Light of Light, very God of 
very God, King of kings, and Lord of lords, 
Emanuel, God with us. For Thou only art holy, 
Thou only art the Lord, Thou only, O Christ, with 
the Holy Ghost, art most high in the glory of God 
the Father. 

"But chiefly, at this time, we adore Thee for 
leaving the glory which Thou hadst with the Father 
before the world began. We know Thy grace, O 
Lord Jesus Christ, yet though Thou wast rich yet 
for our sakes Thou didst become poor, that we, 
through Thy poverty, might be made rich. We be- 
seech Thee, by the mystery of Thy holy incarnation 
and nativity, good Lord deliver us. Thou who didst 
come that we might have life, and might have it 
more abundantly, be gracious unto us. 

"We pray, O Heavenly Father, that through 
Thy tender mercies the Day-Spring from on higfy 
which hath visited us, may arise and shine upon the 
nations that are sitting in darkness and in the 
shadow of death, to guide their feet into the way of 
peace. Grant that it may both be a light to lighten 
the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel. 
May the children of Zion be joyful in their King! 
And may they so truly follow the blessed steps of 
their Lord and Master that they may be saved by 
Him in the great day of His appearing and glory. 
Grant this for Jesus Christ's sake." Amen. 



PRIVATE DEVOTION,, PERSONAL MINISTRY 12$ 
LAST DAY OF THE YEAR. 

"Almighty and eternal Lord of Heaven and 
earth, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow 
of turning, who art the same yesterday, to-day and 
forever. Accept, we beseech Thee, our humble sac- 
rifice of praise and thanksgiving for Thy goodness 
and mercy which have followed us all our days. We 
especially bless Thee for delivering us from the 
dangers of the year now drawing to its close. 

"We humble ourselves before Thee, confessing 
and bewailing all that we have done amiss. Enter 
not into judgment with us, but spare us according 
to Thy great goodness. According to the multitude 
of Thy tender mercies blot out our offences. Pardon 
and accept us for the sake of Thy only begotten 
Son, whom Thou didst send into the world, as at 
this time, to take our nature upon Him, that He 
might redeem us unto Thee by His blood. Bless us 
in turning us away from our iniquities. Wash us 
thoroughly from our wickedness, and cleanse us 
from our sins ; and let them all be buried with the 
closing year, to rise up against us no more for ever. 

"And keep us mindful, good Lord, as the years 
of our life pass away, that the end of all things is at 
hand, and make us sober and watchful unto prayer. 
May we never forget that we are strangers and pil- 
grims upon earth, that we have no continuing city 
here, and ought diligently to seek one to come. Our 
years pass away like a shadow, or a vapor, which 
appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away. 



126 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

Lord, teach us so to number them that we may ap- 
ply our hearts unto wisdom. Make us to know our 
end, and the measure of our days, that we may con- 
sider how frail we are, and may learn to redeem 
the time that remaineth. May we remember also 
that life is uncertain as well as short, and that in 
the midst thereof we are continually in death. Give 
us grace to watch and pray, since we know neither 
the day nor the hour when the Son of Man cometh. 
May we be always ready, with our loins girt about 
and our lights burning ; that whenever He may say, 
Behold, I come quickly, we may be able to reply, 
Even so, come, Lord Jesus. 

"Help us to fight the good fight, to finish our 
course, and to keep the faith, that there may be laid 
up for us a crown of righteousness, which Thou, 
the righteous and merciful Judge, wilt give unto us 
in that day. 

"Hear us, O Lord, we further beseech Thee, 
while we make our hearty intercessions for all who 
are partakers of the same frail nature with ourselves. 
Look in mercy upon those who are in the morning 
of their years. 

"May they remember their Creator in the days 
of their youth, before the evil days come, and the 
years draw nigh, of which they shall say, there is 
no pleasure in them. As Thou hast promised that 
they who seek Thee early shall find Thee, do Thou 
graciously dispose them to seek Thee earnestly with 
all their hearts, that so they may become Thy sons 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY 12J 

and daughters, growing in wisdom as they grow in 
years, and in favor with Thee and man. 

"Mercifully regard, also, such as are in the 
strength and vigor of life, and dispose them to give 
unto Thee the best of their days, and not to weary 
themselves for very vanity. 

"Remember, we pray Thee those whose strength 
is now but labor and sorrow. Enable them to bring 
forth fruit in their old age according to the ability 
which yet remaineth. May they come to their graves 
like as a shock of corn cometh in his season. When 
their flesh and their heart fail them, be Thou the 
strength of their hearts and their portion for ever. 

"Fulfill, O Lord, these our petitions, for the 
sake of our only Mediator and Advocate, Jesus 
Christ." Amen. 

WATCHNIGHT. 

"Another year is dawning: 

Dear Master let it be 
In working or in waiting, 
Another year with Thee. 

"Another year of leaning 

Upon Thy loving breast, 
Of ever deepening trustfulness, 
Of quiet, happy rest. 

"Another year of progress, 
Another year of praise; 
Another year of proving 

Thy presence 'all the days/ 



128 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

"Another year of service, 
Of witness for Thy love; 
Another year of training 
For holier work above. 

"Another year is dawning, 
Dear Master, let it be, 
On earth, or else in heaven, 
Another year for Thee!" Amen. 



PRIVATE DEVOTION,, PERSONAL MINISTRY 12% 



CHAPTER X. 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S PRAYERS. 



PRAYER FOR GOD'S PRESENCE. 

"Be Thou near me, 

Guide and cheer me 
Onward through life's weary maze; 

Thou hast found me, 

Oh, surround me 
With Thy presence all my days! 

"Make me lowly, 

Prayerful, holy, 
Patient 'neath Thy chastening rod ! 

Never leave me, 

But receive me 
Home at last to Thee, O God!" Amen. 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION. 

"No, not despairingly, 

Come I to Thee; 
No, not distrustingly, 

Bend I the knee ; 
Sin hath gone over me, 
Yet is this still my plea, 

Jesus hath died. 



130 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP. 

"Ah, mine iniquity 

Crimson hath been; 
Infinite, infinite 

Sin upon sin; 
Sin of not loving Thee, 
Sin of not trusting Thee, 

Infinite sin. 

"Lord, I confess to Thee, 

Sadly my sin; 
All I am tell I Thee, 

All I have been; 
Purge my sin away 
Wash Thou my soul this day; 

Lord, make me clean." Amen. 

PRAYER FOR LIGHT ON GOD'S WORD. 

The Lord hold the light above His own Book 
while we read it. 

The Lord cause a light to shine out of the Book 
while we study it. 

The Lord turn over the pages with His own 
fingers and whisper to us the meaning of the Spirit 
while we read the letter. 

The Lord speak to us from the cross of forgive- 
ness, pardon and peace. Amen. 

PRAYER FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT. 

Heavenly Father, Thou dost speak wonderful 
things unto the children of men. 

Thy voice is in our hearts like music from 
Heaven. All Thy words are wonderful, and Thy 
promise exceeding great and precious., And Thou 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY I3I 

dost not withhold one of them from them that love 
Thee. 

Open the windows of Heaven and pour upon us 
Thy blessing. Inspire our hearts with Thy Holy 
Spirit, and let us be glad with a new joy. 

Show us what we are, what time is, what earth 
is, how few are our days and how urgent is the 
King's business; that we may hasten upon it, and 
serve Him with unceasing love. 

Show us that we are not our own but bought 
with a price, that we are Thine, body, mind and 
spirit, and may we live to glorify Thee now and 
evermore. Amen. 

PRAYER OF CONSECRATION. 

"Take my soul and body's powers; 

Take my memory, mind and will; 
All my goods, and all my hours, 

All I know, and all I feel; 
All I think or speak, or do; 
Take my heart; — but make it new." 



132 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 



CHILDREN'S PRAYERS. 



CHAPTER XL 



SUNDAY MORNING PRAYER. 

"Father in heaven, we kneel to pray 
And thank Thee for Thy holy day; 
May He who took our sins away 
Help us in all we do and say, 
And keep us safe 'till next Lord's day." Amen. 

MORNING PRAYER. 

"Lord teach a little child to pray, 

Thy grace betimes impart; 
And grant Thy Holy Spirit may 
Renew my infant heart. 

"And kindly all my sins forgive, 
And wash away each strain, 
And fit my soul with Christ to live, 
And in His kingdom reign/' 

"Now as I wait to see the light, 
'Tis God that kept me through the night; 
To Him I lift my voice and pray 
That He would keep me through the day." Amen. 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY I33 

KINDERGARTEN MORNING PRAYER. 

"Father we thank Thee for the night, 
And for the pleasant morning light; 
For rest and food and loving care, 
And all that makes the day so fair. 

"Help us to do the things we should, 
To be to others kind and good, 
In all we do, in work or play, 
To grow more loving every day." Amen. 

MORNING HYMN PRAYER. 

"Father, lead me day by day, 
Ever in Thine own sweet way; 
Teach me to be pure and true, 
Show me what I ought to do. 

"When in danger make me brave; 
Make me know that Thou canst save: 
Keep me safe by Thy dear side; 
Let me in Thy love abide. 

"When I'm tempted to do wrong 
Make me steadfast, wise, and strong; 
And, when all alone I stand, 
Shield me with Thy mighty hand. 

"May I do the good I know, 
Be Thy loving child below, 
Then at last go home to Thee, 
Evermore Thy child to be." Amen. 

EVENING PRAYERS. 

"Jesus, tender shepherd, hear me, 
Bless Thy little lamb to-night, 
Through the darkness be Thou near me, 
Keep me safe 'till morning light. 



134 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

"All day long Thy hand hath led me, 
And I thank Thee for the care, 
Thou hast clothed me, warmed me, fed me, 
Listen to my evening prayer." Amen. 

"Lord, teach me how to pray, and what to ask Thee for: 
Keep me from sin each day, and make me love Thee more. 
Never let me naughty be, but* gentle, good, and kind ; 
And that Thou always seest me, help me to keep in mind. 

"Dear Lord, watch over me this night, as Thou hast all 

the day, 
And wake me with the morning light Thy precepts to 

obey. 
My father and my mother bless with much of love for 

Thee, 
And faith, and hope, and every grace, that they may 

happy be." Amen. 

EVENING HYMN PRAYER. 

"Father, the night again has come, 

To Thee I kneel and pray ; 
I thank Thee for Thy loving care 
O'er me throughout the day. 

"Father, may I trust Thee ever, 
In my youth and after years; 
Never, never may I doubt Thee, 
Quiet all my fears. 

"Oh, guide me, Lord, for Jesus' sake, 

And keep me close to Thee, 
That all through life I may be Thine, 
And through eternity." Amen. 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY I35 

PRAYER FOR WISDOM. 

"Make us, dear Saviour, truly wise 
To watch for Thee with loving eyes; 
Fill Thou our hearts with grace divine, 
For Thee to love, for Thee to shine." Amen. 

PRAYER FOR FAITHFULNESS. 

"I cannot do great things for Him, 

Who did so much for me; 
But I would like to show my love, 

Dear Jesus, unto Thee ; 
Faithful in very little things, 

Saviour, may I be ! 

"And so, I ask Thee, give me grace 

My little place to fill, 
That I may ever walk with Thee, 

And ever do Thy will; 
And in each duty, great or small, 

1 may be faithful still." Amen. 

PRAYER FOR OBEDIENCE. 

"O Holy Lord, content to fill 

In lowly home the lowliest place; 
Thy childhood's law a mother's will, 
Obedience meek, Thy brightest grace. 

"Lead every child that hears Thy name, 
To walk in Thine own guileless way; 
To dread the touch of sin and shame, 
And humbly, like Thyself, obey." Amen. 

PRAYER FOR GRACE. 

"O what can little hands do 
To please the King of heaven? 

The little hands some work must try 
To help the poor in misery; 
Such grace to mine be given! 



X36 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP, 

"O what can little lips do 
To please the King of heaven? 
The little lips can praise and pray, 
And gentle words of kindness say; 
Such grace to mine be given! 

"O what can little eyes do 
To please the King of heaven? 
The little eyes can upward look 
Can learn to read God's holy book; 
Such grace to mine be given! 

"O what can little hearts do 
To please the King of heaven? 
Young hearts if God His Spirit send 
Can love and trust their Saviour, Friend; 
Such grace to mine be given! 

"Though small is all that we can do 
To please the King of heaven, 

When hearts, the hands, and lips unite, 
To serve the Saviour with delight, 
They are most precious in His sight; 
Such grace to mine be given I" Amen. 

THANKSGIVING. 

"Father in heaven we thank Thee, 
For the fruit upon the tree 
For the birds that sing to Thee, 
For the earth in beauty dressed, 
Father, mother, and the rest; 
For Thy precious, loving care, 
For Thy bounty everywhere, 
Father, we thank Thee; 
"Father in heaven, we thank Thee. ,, Amen. 



PRIVATE DEVOTION,, PERSONAL MINISTRY, 137 



CHAPTER XII. 



PRIVATE DEVOTIONS. 



A CLOSET PRAYER JUST AFTER RISING. 

"Blessed art Thou, O Lord, my God, and the 
God of my fathers, who turnest the shadow of death 
into mourning, and renewest the face of the earth. 

"Who scatterest the darkness by this return of 
light, and hast commanded night to give place to 
day. 

"Who hast enlightened my eyes, that I should 
not sleep in death. 

"Who hast delivered me from the terror by 
night and from the pestilence that walkest in the 
darkness. 

"Who hast unlocked mine eyes from sleep, and 
mine eyelids from slumber. 

"Who makest the out-goings of the mornings 
and of the evenings to praise Thee. 

"For that I laid me down and slept, and rose 
up again, because Thou, O Lord, didst make me 
dwell in safety. 

"For that I awaked, and beheld, and my sleep 
was sweet unto me. 

"Blot out, I pray Thee, as a cloud, my trans- 



I38 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP, 

gressions, and as the thickness of the morning cloud 
my sins. 

"Grant me to walk, as a child of light, soberly, 
purely, and honestly, as in the day; and this day 
in particular, O Lord, vouchsafe to keep me with- 
out sin ; upholding me, when I am about to fall ; and 
lifting me up, if I happen to be down; that I may 
never be suffered to continue under any provoca- 
tion, or temptation, or to have my heart hardened 
through the deceitfulness of sin. 

"Let my body also be safe under Thy protection, 
and defend me under the shadow of Thy wings from 
the snare of the hunter, and from the noisome pesti- 
lence ; from the arrow that flieth by day, and from 
the sickness that destroyeth at noon. 

"Defend this day from all evil of mine, and 
preserve me from all the evil of this day. 

"Suffer not my days to be consumed in vanity, 
nor my years in trouble; but let each day tell and 
instruct another, by some useful improvement in 
knowledge, or practical virtue. 

"Oh, let me hear Thy loving-kindness betimes 
in the morning, for in Thee is my trust. Show 
Thou me the way that I should walk in, for I lift up 
my soul unto Thee. 

"Deliver me, O Lord from my (spiritual) 
enemies, for I flee unto Thee to hide me. 

"Teach me to do the thing that pleaseth Thee, 
for Thou art my God ; let Thy loving spirit lead me 
forth into the land of righteousness. 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY I39 

"Quicken me, O Lord, for Thy name's sake; 
and for Thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out 
of trouble. 

"Remove far from me thoughts that are with- 
out understanding, and evermore inspire me with 
such thoughts as are wise, and good, and well-pleas- 
ing in Thy sight. 

"Turn away mine eyes, lest they behold vanity, 
but let them be fixed on the thing that is right, and 
let mine eyelids look straight before me. 

"Inclose mine ears with a hedge of tKorns, 
that no foolish, filthy, or profane talk may be allowed 
to enter in ; but let them be open to discipline and 
wisdom, and always give willing attention to the 
words of truth and righteousness. 

"Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth, and 
keep the door of my lips ; let my speech be seasoned 
with salt, and good to the use of edifying, that it 
may minister grace unto the hearers. 

"Let no work of my hands cause grief or just 
offence of heart ; but let me be continually employed 
in such actions, for which Thou, my God, mayest 
remember me for good, and spare me, according 
to the multitude of Thy mercies. 

"Into Thy hands I commend my whole self, my 
spirit, my soul, and my body ; for Thou hast created, 
redeemed and regenerated them, O Lord, Thou God 
of Truth. 

"And, together with myself, all my relations 
and friends, all my possessions and comforts; for 



I40 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

all these Thou hast graciously given to Thy un- 
worthy servant. 

"Preserve us, I beseech Thee, from all evil, yea, 
do even Thou preserve our souls; and let them be 
presented before Thy Majesty, holy and unreprov- 
able, in the day of the Lord Jesus. 

"Preserve my going out and my coming in, 
from this time forth for evermore. 

"Prosper, I pray Thee, Thy servant this day, 
that I may find favour, and be able to do good, 
among those that shall converse with me. 

"Haste Thee, O Lord, to my help; be always 
at hand to direct me. 

"O turn Thee unto me, and have mercy upon 
me ; give Thy strength unto Thy servant, and save 
the child of Thy handmaid. 

"Show some token upon me for good, that they 
who hate me may see it and be ashamed; because 
Thou, O Lord, hast holpen me, and comforted me." 
Amen. 

A MORNING PRAYER. 

"In my inner life I desire to be kept absolutely 
pure and lovely. O holy, spotless One, be in me the 
crystal fountain of purity ! O Lamb of God, be in 
me the source of absolute meekness and humility! 
O Lover of men, be in me a fire of unwaning, all 
subduing tenderness ! Make me instantly sensitive 
to the least taint of impurity or uncharity. Before 
ever the suggestion has assumed a tangible shape 
may I detect it and take shelter in Thee, 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY I4I 

"In my home life may I be a blessing; its sun- 
beam when the days are dark; its inspiration when 
the days are sad and hopeless; its tender comfort 
when the days are full of pain and tears. Always 
thinking of others before myself ; never imposing my 
private sorrows; ever with the girt loin and the 
lighted torch; washing my face and anointing my 
eyes, Rev. 3 : 18., and confiding my griefs to Thee 
only, that I may ever have. 

"A heart at leisure from itself 
To soothe and sympathize." 

"May neglect of prayer and Thy Holy Word be 
things of the past. Give me greater love for Thy 
Word. Ps. 119: 165. Wake me morning by morn- 
ing to hear as a disciple. Isa. 50 : 4. R. V. Enable 
me to spring up at Thy call, and like all Thy true 
servants to rise up early in the morning to gather 
the manna ere the dew be gone from it. May my 
fellowship with Thee be unbroken through the day, 
so that I may look up often into Thy face, even if I 
have not time to speak. Draw me, and I will run 
after Thee. S of S. 1 : 4. 

"Make me diligent in business, fervent in spirit, 
serving the Lord. Rom. 12: 11. May I do my 
work, not for wages, but to please Thee. 1 John 
3 .22. May it be the one object of my daily striving 
to do all to the glory of God, 1 Cor. 10: 31; not 
with eye-service, as pleasing men, but in singleness 
of heart, fearing the Lord. Col. 3: 22; doing the 



142 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

will of God as it is indicated in The Holy Word 
and in the circumstances of life, looking for my 
reward from Thy hand, O Divine Lover." Amen. 

PRAYER FROM THE PSALMS. 

"Hear me when I call, O God of my righteous- 
ness ; have mercy upon me and hear my prayer. 

"Lead me, O Lord, in Thy righteousness ; make 
Thy way straight before my face. 

"Hold up my goings in Thy paths, that my 
footsteps slip not. Shew Thy marvellous loving- 
kindness, O Thou that savest by Thy right hand. 
Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the 
shadow of Thy wings. 

"Keep back Thy servant also from persumptu- 
ous sins. Let the words of my mouth, and the 
meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, 
O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer. 

"Show me Thy ways, O Lord, teach me Thy 
paths. Lead me in Thy truth, and teach me; for 
Thou art the God of my salvation. 

"Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my 
transgressions; according to Thy mercy remember 
Thou me for Thy goodness sake, O Lord. 

"Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my 
reins and my heart. 

"Teach me Thy way, O Lord, and lead me in 
a plain path, because of them that observe me. 

"Make Thy Face to shine upon me. 

"Lord all my desire is before Thee. 

"Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear unto 



PRIVATE DEVOTION., PERSONAL MINISTRY I43 

my cry. Be pleased, O Lord, to help me. 

"Let those that seek Thee rejoice and be glad 
in Thee ; let such as love Thy salvation say continu- 
ally, The Lord be magnified. 

"Deliver me from the unjust. 

"Hear my prayer; preserve my life from fear. 

"Verily God has heard me ; he hath attended to 
the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, which 
hath not turned away my prayer, nor His mercy 
from me." Amen. 

PRAYER FOR LIKENESS TO CHRIST. 

"Dear Lord, don't mind my weakness; Thou 
knowest Thy strength is made perfect in my weak- 
ness ; don't mind my failures ; do not spare me for 
my shrinking; make me like Thyself, dear Lord, in 
any way at any cost, no matter whether I like it or 
not. Thou knowest best, dear Lord, and I want 
Thee to have Thine own way in me. Not my will, 
but Thine, always ; I may not like the process ; it 
may hurt; I may even feel discouraged and almost 
ready to draw back ; doubts may assail me, fears may 
torment me, I may be weary of the conflict and sigh 
for rest and cry for deliverance before the work is 
done. Never mind dear Lord, finish the work Thou 
hast begun, for Thy name's sake, and for Thine 
own glory, and stay not Thy hand until Thou seest, 
clear, and true, and perfect, Thine own image and 
likeness in me ; and to Thee, and Thee alone, shal). 
be all praise forever." Amen. 



144 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

PRAYER FOR ENEMIES. 

"O patient Lord, who in Thy bitter pains didst 
pray for those who persecuted and reviled Thee, 
saying, Father, forgive them, they know not what 
they do, give us of Thy Spirit, that we may love our 
enemies, pray for them, and do good to them who 
do evil unto us, that at last we may not fail of Thy 
forgiveness at the day of Judgment. Grant this, 
Lord Jesus, for Thine own mercies' sake." Amen. 

PRAYER FOR BLESSING. 

Heavenly Father, we are Thy children, and we 
depend upon Thy bounty. We look up to Thee in 
our weakness for strength, in our darkness for 
light, in our sinfulness for forgiveness. 

Resting on Thy love, through faith in Thy dear 
Son, may we feel no terror in the thought of Thy 
Presence. 

We would set Thee always before us, that being 
at our right hand we may not be greatly moved. 

How gracious and patient Thou art, bearing 
with our forgetfulness, and irresolution, and world- 
liness, and selfishness. Thy love never wearies. 
Thou dost welcome us with a generous and forget- 
ting eye, and so we come to Thee, not as fearing Thy 
forsaking, but assured of Thy forgiveness. Thou 
art our truest and dearest Friend, whose love never 
fails, whose mercy endureth forever, who art ever 
thinking of us and guiding and blessing us. 

Heavenly Father, baptize us with Thy Holy. 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY I45 

Spirit. We would be holy as Thou art holy; we 
would be wise, and true, and strong, and noble, and 
gentle. We would abound in all the fruits and evi- 
dences of a godly life. 

Reveal to us, we beseech Thee, our individual 
obligations to the divine mercy and compassion and 
love. Forgive us if we have been living so near the 
world that we have become blind to spiritual mat- 
ters. Open our eyes that we may see the beauties 
of holiness, that we may see in Thy beloved Son, 
Jesus Christ, the glory of the Divine Father. 

May the Saviour of the world draw us to His 
wondrous Cross, and may the Holy Spirit work 
mightily in us till our understanding be full of light 
and our hearts full of love. 

Take our poor prayers and answer them, not 
according to our faith, but according to the great- 
ness of Thy grace. Take our poor hearts and estab- 
lish them in Thy love. Take our poor lives and unite 
them to Thine own. And above all take our poor 
work and cleanse it in the precious blood of Christ. 

Pour into our hearts such love toward Thee, 
that we, loving Thee above all things, may obtain 
Thy promises which exceed all we can desire; 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

A PRAYER FOR FAITH. 

"O Lord God of infinite mercy, who hast sent 
Thy Holy Son into the world to redeem us from 
all evil, let my faith, I beseech Thee, be the parent 



I46 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

of a good life, a strong shield to repel the fiery darts 
of the devil ; and grant that I may be supported by 
its strength in all temptations, and refreshed by its 
comforts in all my sorrows, till from the imperfec- 
tions of this life it may arrive at the consummation 
of an eternal and never-ceasing love ; through Jesus 
Christ. Amen. 

A PRAYER FOR WISDOM. 

"Grant unto me, O God, my Father, this day, 
for the sake of Thy Son, the Power of God and the 
Wisdom of God ; that by the Holy Spirit I may re- 
ceive the Spirit of Wisdom and of Understanding, 
not judging to-day after seeing of the eyes, or the 
hearing of the ears, but with Thy Spirit's help have the 
discerning power to discern between him that serveth 
God and him that serveth Him not; the power to 
discern between that which is good, and that which 
is evil ; to hate the evil, and hold fast to the good ; 
to help my fellowman to walk in Wisdom's ways of 
pleasantness, which are peace, and that I may this 
day be so justified that when the night has come 
Thou shalt be glorified and Wisdom shall be justi- 
fied in my life by her work." Amen, 

PRAYER FOR HUMILITY. 

"He must increase but I must decrease." Jno. 3:30. 

"Lord, I pray Thee, help Thou me, 
Nothing in myself to be; 
Rid me from all inward pride, 
Let this self be crucified. 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY I47 

If, to make me pure Thou must 
Bring me down into the dust, 
Spare not ! only let me be 
Made in all things like to Thee. 

"From all carnal thoughts and ways, 

From all love of human praise, 
From all restless vain desire, 

Purge me though it be by fire. 
Make me nothing, keep me low, 
So the Christ within me grow : 
Hour by hour may He increase, 
Till my evil nature cease. 

"Let me in each moment see 

Thy sweet will, my God, for me; 

And accept with equal mind 
Dark or bright, to all resigned, 

Feeding hourly upon, 

Not Thy gifts, but Thee alone; 

Self renouncing, seeking still, 

Perfect union with Thy will. 

"Sinking into nothingness 

May I rise to heights of bliss. 
O, consume with sacred fire ! 

Every earthly vain desire! 
For Thy love, Thy purity, 
That it shall be joy to me 
Self to slight and crucify, 
Firmly, constantly, deny. 
O, my God, without delay, 
This vile self forever slay ! 



I48 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

"Then with power and glory fill 
All my being, Lord, until 
Thou — as sun 'mid heaven's skies — 

Shall shine forth from my glad eyes; 
In my lightest tones be heard, 
Show Thyself in every word; 
In my countenance serene, 
Let Thy holy light be seen; 
And in every word and way, 
Thy sweet Presence, Lord, betray." Amen. 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY I49 



CHAPTER XIII. 



BRIEF CLOSET PRAYERS. 



"Enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut 
thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret ; and 
thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee 
openly." Mat. 6 :6. 

A PRAYER OF CONFESSION. 

I Jno. 5: 7-9. 

"O Lord, my God, I confess the sins of my 
childhood, the sins of my youth, and the sins of my 
riper age; the sins of my soul and the sins of my 
body; my secret sins and my presumptuous sins; 
the sins I have done to please myself and 
the sins I have done to please others. I 
confess my idle and my reckless sins ; my serious 
and deliberate sins; the sins I have striven to hide 
from others that now I have hid them from my own 
memory. (Confess any that God brings to your re- 
membrance.) 

"O Lord, my God, make my confession honest 
and sincere ; through Jesus Christ our Lord/' Amen. 

FOR FORGIVENESS. 

"O merciful Lord and God, I have sinned, but 



I50 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

I do not hide my sins, for I have confessed them be- 
fore Thee. Forgive them not for my own merits 
or goodness, but for the merits and worthiness of 
our Lord Jesus Christ, who died the just for the un- 
just, that He might bring us unto Thee. For the 
sake of His atonement upon the cross. 

"Grant unto me, O Heavenly Father, perfect 
remission and forgiveness for all the sins and wick- 
edness, all the errors, the follies, the ignorances, the 
negligences, the vain thoughts, the rash words, and 
the many acts of which I have been guilty. 

"Forgive the coldness of my love, the formality 
of my worship, and the imperfection of my obedi- 
ence. Forgive my temper unsubdued and my appe- 
tites unchecked. Forgive my often want of truth 
in word and deed. Forgive my selfishness, my self- 
indulgence, and my self-will. Forgive my cowardice 
and slothfulness in thy service. Forgive my affec- 
tion for the things of this world and my forgetful- 
ness of our Saviour and His cross. 

"Forgive me, and cleanse my heart by the blood 
of Thy dear Son, that I may rest Thy forgiven 
child; through the merits and intercession of Jesus 
Christ our Lord." Amen. 

FOR GOD'S SEARCHLIGHT. 

Search me, O Lord, and know my heart; try 
me, and know my thoughts ; and see if there be any 
wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlast- 
ing. Cause me to hear thy loving kindness in the 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY I5I 

morning, for in Thee do I trust ; cause me to know 
the way wherein I should walk, for I lift up my soul 
to Thee. Let the words of my mouth and the medi- 
tation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O 
Jehovah, my Strength and my Redeemer. Amen. 

FOR CLEANSING. 

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy 
loving kindness; according to the multitude of thy 
tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. Wash 
me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me 
from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions 
and my sin is ever before me. O send out Thy light 
and'Thy truth; let them lead me; let them bring 
me into Thy holy hill and to Thy tabernacles. Let 
Thy mercies come also unto me, O Jehovah, even 
Thy salvation, according to Thy Word. Amen. 

A PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING. 

"Goodness and mercy have followed me all 
the days of my life ; may I dwell with God forever ! 

"I yield Thee thanks and praise, O Lord my 
God, for creating me after Thine own image and 
likeness; for redeeming me with Thy precious 
blood, and for admitting me into the number of Thy 
children. 

"I thank Thee for all Thy mercies, the least of 
which I am not worthy. I thank Thee for sleep, for 
health, for food, for raiment, for home, for reason, 
for affections, for friends, for a quiet spirit, for 



152 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

grace and all the means of grace, for the Bible and 
prayer, for the church with its ministries of truth 
and love, and for all the blessings which have made 
me and keep me Thine. 

"I humbly praise and magnify Thy glorious 
name for all Thy goodness. If I have walked up- 
rightly and honestly and truthfully; if I have kept 
my tongue as with a bridle, it is of Thy mercy, O 
Lord, my God; therefore thanks and praise be to 
Thee through Jesus Christ." Amen. 

A PRAYER FOR OTHERS. 

"O Lord, Thou knowest the wants of all I 
love, supply them; and in so doing bestow Thy 
blessing which maketh rich. Be gracious to Thy 
Church, that it may grow in goodness, and with its 
branches cover the earth. 

"Bless all in authority those whom Thou hast 
set over me both in Church and State ; govern their 
hearts in Thy fear, and guide their understandings 
to do those things acceptable to Thee and beneficial 
to the Church and Commonwealth. 

"Comfort the helpless, and show the light of 
Thy truth to those who wander from the right way. 
Give to all sinners true repentance. Strengthen 
those who have begun well, that they may persevere 
in goodness; and to all my kindred, friends, and 
enemies (if I have any) give Thy good blessings. 

"Oh, Thou Creator of all mankind, have mercy 
on the whole human race. Pity their ignorance, 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY 1 53 

their foolishness, their weakness, their sin. Sheep 
wandering on the mountain without a shepherd, 
travelers lost in the wilderness without a guide. 
Set up an ensign for the nations and bring them 
to Thy glorious rest. Hasten Thy kingdom, and 
bring in everlasting righteousness, for the honor of 
Thy Son, who died the just for the unjust, that He 
might bring them unto God." Amen. 

A PRAYER FOR GOD'S BLESSING. 

"O God, who hast taught us to cast all our 
care on Thee, because Thou carest for us, bless, I 
beseech Thee, my labor, my occupation, my friends 
and relatives, my worldly goods and possessions, 
that, being free from all undue care and anxiety con- 
cerning this present life, and setting my affections 
on things above, I may this day serve Thee cheer- 
fully and help my neighbors readily to Thy honor 
and glory; for the love of Jesus Christ, Thy Son, 
our Lord/' Amen. 

FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS. 

"Almighty God, who knowest I am weak and 
tempted and easily led into sin, help me to walk 
uprightly and in Thy fear all the days of my life. 
Make me pure in thought; truthful and kind in 
speech; honest and upright in my dealings with 
my fellow-men. Give me humility that I be not 
vain; patience that I be not angry; kindness to 
others that I be not selfish; resolution to deny all 



154 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

sinful inclinations ; to subdue all corrupt affections ; 
to take revenge for my intemperance by mortifica- 
tion ; for mis-spending my time by retirement ; for 
the errors of my tongue by silence ; for all the sins 
of my life by deep humility and repentance. And 
while penitent for my sins, may I be joyful and 
glad in Thee, so that by the brightness of my life 
and the cheerfulness of my conversation I may com- 
mend the religion of Christ to all. 

"Vouchsafe unto me the communion of the 
Holy Spirit, to be with me as a spirit of sanctifica- 
tion to purify my heart, a spirit of counsel in all 
perplexities, of direction in all doubts, of resolu- 
tion in all dangers, of constancy in all trials, and 
of comfort in all sufferings. 

"Uphold me in those things I have learned 
aright, and set me right in those things in which I 
err. Strengthen me if in any good thing I waver, 
and keep me from all things that may hurt me; 
through Christ our Lord/' Amen. 

FOR OBEDIENCE. 

"Almighty God, teach me to submit to the easy 
yoke of our Saviour, Christ, and to take upon me His 
light burden. Incline me unto all holy obedience to do 
Thy will. May my heart be so rooted and grounded 
in love, that no difficulties may discourage me in 
the way of well doing; and that neither the cares 
nor pleasures of life may lead me astray from Thee. 
Increase in me that which is lacking; raise up in 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY 1 55 

me that which is fallen; restore to me that which 
I have lost ; quicken in me that which may be ready 
to die; so that I may serve and obey Thee in all 
things; through Jesus Christ our Lord." Amen. 

FOR MEEKNESS. 

"O Lord Jesus, who when Thou wast reviled 
didst not revile again; when Thou sufferedst didst 
not threaten, but didst commit Thyself to Him who 
judgeth righteously ; give me the like spirit of meek- 
ness and patience, that I may repress all wrath, 
strife, murmuring, malice, and envy; that I may 
refrain from all peevish dispositions and from that 
unevenness of spirit which hinders me from the 
discharge of my duty and from giving pleasure to 
those around me; I ask these blessings through 
Jesus Christ." Amen. 

FOR GRACE. 

"O Lord God, remove from me all iniquity, 
superstition, and hypocrisy; all haughtiness, strife 
and wrath ; all indolence and fraud ; all lying and in- 
juriousness ; every evil notion, impure thought, and 
base desire. Grant me to be truly religious and 
godly ; give me patience and a good temper ; purity 
and soberness; contentment and truth, with perse- 
verance in all good to the end; through Jesus 
Christ." Amen. 

FOR PURITY. 

"Blessed Lord, who hast redeemed us unto 
God by Thy blood and hast consecrated all Thy 



I56 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

people to be temples of the Holy Spirit ; make me a 
lit dwelling place for Thy Spirit. Cast out of me 
every thing that defileth ; all impure lusts, sinful af- 
fections, covetous desires, vain imaginations, and 
everything contrary to Thy holy will, that I may 
serve Thee with godly fear, with a willing mind, 
with an eye single to Thy glory." Amen. 

FOR PERSEVERANCE. 

"Give me grace, O Lord, to lay aside every 
weight and the sin which doth so easily beset me, 
to run with patience the race that is set before me, 
looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our 
faith, who for the joy that was set before Him, en- 
dured the cross, despising the shame, and is set 
down at the right hand of the throne of God." 
Amen. 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY 1 57 



CHAPTER XIV. 



QUIET HOUR OF THE PENTECOSTAL 
PRAYER UNION. 



O Thou Living, Eternal, Prayer-hearing and 
Prayer-answering God. Just now incline Thine ear 
unto Thy children while we wait upon Thee. In 
the Name of Jesus, our Heavenly Master, we come 
boldly unto Thy throne. We would not dare to 
come to Thee in ourselves. We could not ask of 
Thee in our weakness. But believing His life-giv- 
ing words, "If ye ask anything in My name, I will 
do it," John 14:14, we have dared to come to the 
invisible altar day after day and call unto Thee. 
But just now, our Father, we desire to be very per- 
sonal and very direct. Why is it, O Father, that so 
many of Thy little ones are still calling vainly for 
the Bread of Life ? John 6 135. 

Draw us very close unto Thee, our Father, 
for this communion is between Thee and us. Have 
we not often gone away from these quiet times feel- 
ing that God had not heard in truth and thus we 
were disappointed. Father, why is it ? Again, have 



158 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

we not gone away without joy — some of us lacking 
this and others that, whilst Thou art abounding in 
the fullness of blessing? Yet we praise Thee that 
we see some of Thy children who receive from Thee 
at all times, rejoicing in Thy love. Is it not 
that they have learned the secret of receiving from 
Thee ? They have learned the privileges of the pres- 
ent moment. Oh, let it be so with us all ! Let now 
be the time that our hearts are satisfied. Do search 
us and see if there be lurking in our hearts any 
seed of unbelief, any self-will or hidden sin. Thy 
words are eternal and true. Then surely the failure 
is with us, for Thou hast said that Thou dost even 
answer before we call, Isa. 65 124. Do we pray from 
the fullness of an abiding and believing heart or 
do we pray, rather, out of the emptiness of self and 
unbelief ? 

We acknowledge, O God, that we have failed 
to abide. We find it so hard to just abide in Thee 
now. There is such a tendency to look to the mor- 
row or to the next hour or when faith is a little 
stronger. We do not take Thy words as the power 
to hold us in Thy presence — in Thy heart. We do 
not receive them as the testimony from Thine own 
lips, and the assurance of our expectation, and the 
answers to our cries. Help us to see new beauties 
in Thy words. Help us to find them life-giving. 
Help us to know that when Thou dost say, "I will 
be a Father unto you and ye shall be My sons and 
daughters," 2 Cor. 2:18, that it is true. Thou hast 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY 1 59 

said, "When the poor and needy seek water, and 
there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I 
the Lord, will hear, I the God of Israel will not for- 
sake them." Isa. 41 :iy. Surely as Thou hast 
spoken these words, Thou God of all, wilt Thou not 
hear the earnest cry of Thy children for their needs 
and the needs of their brothers and sisters through 
Jesus? When we meet here in this "quiet hour," 
in this holy silent communion, in the covenant of 
prayer, we have needs, not only of our own, so many 
and so great ; but we have the needs of others. We 
would forget our own. We would be swallowed up 
in Thee. We would offer ourselves to Thee, to be 
used for those who have not even found the way to 
this communion. O waken within us deep, burning, 
holy desire for Thee and for Thy glory. Fill us 
with the joy of intercession. Make it to spring 
within us as fountains of water breaking forth. We 
must be taught. We must be inspired, O Father, 
by the Spirit of Thy Son. Help us to cry unto Him 
out of our hearts, "Lord, teach us to pray." We 
long to pray well-pleasing unto Thee. We know 
that we cannot be heard for our much speaking. 
Save us from the words of our own lips. Oh, we 
come that we may be anointed anew with the Holy 
Spirit. Let us learn in His presence our first lesson 
before we rise from our knees. Help us to receive 
in quietness and confidence, the Spirit of prayer, 
Himself, that we may pray in Christ's name. Thou 



l6o PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

beholdest our need now. Oh, satisfy us now ! Thou 
art our God ! 

Our Father! we have heard that in this word 
lies the secret of the life of faith. O, teach us by 
Thy Spirit ! Teach us the secret of living faith in 
our Saviour. Prove to us that the greatest bless- 
ing that can come into our lives is the power of 
resting in our Lord Jesus as everything to us. Keep 
us from finding rest in a future or more convenient 
time. Help us now,, O, living God, just Now r , 
while we kneel before Thee! We need life, we 
need the fullness of joy. O, our needs are so great 
and so many! We need Thee, Thyself. But it is 
the hunger in our hearts, our Father, for Thy love 
that brings forth the cry for food and drink. Is it 
not for us now ? Hast Thou not promised ? Can we 
not have it now ? O, we can ! We do receive. 

But now come up from the deeps of our souls 
the hidden monsters of feeling. We are tempted to 
look at these and lose the vision of Thy face. They 
would contradict all of Thy revelation. They would 
deny the certainty of our faith. They are the evil 
powers of our own self-darkness. Yet, Lord, Thy 
word is truth, and all darkness, all doubt, all fear, 
all self must be swallowed up in that light. Thou 
art light. Our feelings are as deceitful, are as de- 
ceiving, as our hearts and thoughts. We will not 
hear their voices. We will not see their shadowy 
forms. We will hear the voice of this great desire 
springing within us from Thine own Spirit. We 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY l6l 

will be strengthened by the Almighty power of Thy 
will. We will see the creations of Thy mind. We 
will believe Thee in the faith of Thy Son, which 
Thou dost give us. 

Father, give us to take just now, through the 
Spirit, all that Thou hast meant Jesus to be unto 
us ! Help us to receive Him now. Reveal Him in 
us, as Thou hast revealed Him to us. We feel so 
unworthy, but He is worthy. We have failed and 
must ever fail. He has overcome. We will over- 
come in Him. Help us now, this moment, to enter 
into His overcoming life. We would trust Thee ab- 
solutely. We would trust Thee now. Forgive us, 
O God, that we have been so slow of heart to be- 
lieve. Thou dost forgive us now. We do receive 
Thy blessing. Many of us shrink from taking be- 
cause of the sense of unworthiness. Bring to our 
remembrance and to our hearts Thine own words 
of assurance. Is He not our worthiness ? Is He not 
our intercessor ? O, look not upon us, save as Thou 
dost through the Lord Jesus, lest we perish! All 
things are possible for Thee, our God, and it is pos- 
sible for Thee to open our inner sight, even now, 
that our whole being may be flooded with Thy Di- 
vine light. This moment we can, by Thy grace, 
yield all to Thee. Even now, our whole spirit and 
soul and body may be sanctified through and 
through, i Thes. 5 123. Preserve us blameless 
unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, Thou 
art faithful who will do it. 



l62 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

But do we believe, O Living Spirit of God, as 
we wait upon Thee, that this is true, that even now 
we receive and enter in? Father of our spirits, we 
would not listen to any question, but quickly fly to 
Thee and find rest! We hear the words of Thy 
Son, and believe: "What things soever ye desire, 
when ye pray, believe that ye receive them and ye 
shall have them/' Mark 11:24. Let the shield of 
faith hide us from the arrows of the enemy. Let 
Thy word overthrow the tempter. We cannot meet 
him in our own strength. But, "Thou hast even 
prepared a table for us in the presence of our ene- 
mies." Ps. 23 15. And shall we not partake with 
anointed heads and with cups running over, as Jesus 
longs to give us. He spreads the spiritual feasts. 
He says, "all things are now ready, "Luke 14:17, 
but waits for our confidence, our glad acceptance. 
He notes the simplest act of obedience and rejoices 
over the tiniest seed of faith. Father, He is watch- 
ing now while we pray unto Thee in His Name! 
In the Spirit we meet. In the Spirit we receive His 
own life. We hear Him saying tenderly, encour- 
agingly, "Abide in Me and ask what ye will." With 
this assurance can we not to-day, Father of lights, 
love the "quiet hour," the silent hush about the un- 
seen altar, the hallowed associations of this com- 
munion, the sweet fragrance of the blessed incense 
of hearts seeking Thee, and go out with all our 
needs supplied. 

Is this too much to ask of Thee ? Hast Thou not 



PRIVATE DEVOTION,, PERSONAL MINISTRY 163 

said that Thou art able to make all grace abound? 
Just no w, our Father, open the windows of our inner 
lives and let streams of blessings pour in from Thy 
heart. In our thirst, our Father, just now, we 
would come to the fountain of Thine own life and 
drink. Help us to drink deeply. Teach us how to 
drink. O, make wells within us of living water ! 
Save us from any selfish desire. Forgive any of 
our number who have sought selfishly any gift from 
Thee. Pardon any of us who have planned and 
asked Thee to approve the plan. O, be Thou our 
life in all! Just now, even now, let the blood of 
Christ flow over all our desire. Just now let the 
fire burn and consume away whatever unholy feel- 
ings may exist in any heart toward another. Make 
us one united, unselfish, Christ-anointed fellowship. 
May we know Thy presence and remember our Cov- 
enant. May we know Thy Covenant with us. Let 
us seek first Thy Kingdom and righteousness. Matt. 
6:33. The time is short, Lord. We must be up 
and doing in this prayer w r ork. O, help us. Help 
us now. Some souls may be waiting even now for 
a message from Thee. Thou art waiting now to 
give that message through us. Help us to wait now 
to receive and to give, for "behold now is the day 
of salvation." 

O Father, we would bow very low before Thee 
and beseech of Thee to make Jesus unto us all that 
His death implies ! He bore our griefs and carried 
our sorrows. Our sins and our sicknesses He took 



164 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP, 

upon Himself on the Cross. Let the glory of Thine 
own light shine in upon us and make this real to 
our souls and to our spirits and to our senses. And 
let us, because of it, forget our burdens, give them 
to Him who bears them and pour out our lives for 
others. Accept us as living sacrifices now., and 
keep us steadfast to the end. Amen. 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY 165 



CHAPTER XV. 



PRAISES. 



"I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall 
continually be in my mouth." Ps. 34:1 

PRAISE FROM THE PSALMS. 

"I will praise Thee. I will be glad and rejoice 
in Thee; I will sing praise to Thy name, O Thou 
most High. 

"I will love Thee, O Lord, my strength. 

"My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed; 
I will sing and give praise. 

"I will praise Thee, OLord, among the people: 
I will sing unto Thee among the nations. 

"For Thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and 
Thy truth unto the clouds. 

"Bless the Lord, O my soul : and all that is 
within me, bless His holy name. 

"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all 
His benefits. 

"Who forgiveth all thine iniquities ; who heal- 
eth all thy diseases ; 

"Who redeemeth thy life from destruction ; who 



166 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

crowneth thee with loving-kindness and tender mer- 
cies; 

"Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; 
so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. 

"I will worship toward Thy holy temple, and 
praise Thy name for Thy loving-kindness and for 
Thy truth: for Thou hast magnified Thy word 
above all Thy name. 

"In the day when I cried Thou answeredst me, 
and strengthendst me with strength in my soul. 

"O God the Lord, the strength of my salvation, 
Thou hast covered my head in the day of battle. 

"I will extol Thee, my God, O King; and I will 
bless Thy name for ever and ever. 

"Every day will I bless Thee, and I will praise 
Thy name for ever and ever. 

"I will speak of the glorious honor of Thy ma- 
jesty, and of Thy wondrous works. 

"The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion ; 
slow to anger, and of great mercy. The Lord is 
good to all. The Lord upholdeth all that fall. 

"The Lord is righteous in all His ways. The 
Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to 
all that call upon Him in truth. 

"The Lord preserveth all them that love Him ; 
but all the wicked shall He destroy. 

"My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord. 

"While I live will I praise the Lord: I will 
sing praises unto my God while I have any being. 

"The Lord looseth the prisoners: the Lord 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY 167 

openeth the eyes of the blind: the Lord raiseth 
them that are bowed down: the Lord loveth the 
righteous : the Lord preserveth the strangers : He 
relieveth the fatherless and widow. The Lord shall 
reign for ever. 

"The Lord doth build up Jerusalem. The 
Lord lifteth up the meek. 

"The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear 
Him, in those that hope in His mercy. His name 
alone is excellent; His glory is above the earth 
and heaven." Amen. 



PRAISE TO THE HOLY SPIRIT 
FOR HIS INDWELLING PRESENCE. 

"Dear Holy Spirit, who can know 

The Comforter Thou art, 
Till they have felt deep need of Thee 
From out a broken heart 

"Ten thousand griefs, dear Lord, have swept 
Across this heart of mine, 
But every one has pushed me out 
Still deeper into Thine. 

"I know Thou workest for my good, 

Thy soul's unfathomed pains, 
The deep, dark dungeon's doleful cries 
Thou turn'st to mellow strains. 

"Thou art far sweeter than Thy gifts, 

Though they surpass all thought; 
And yet Thy presence in my breast 
With precious blood was bought. 



l68 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

"O Comforter! it is Thyself 
Who shows the blood to me, 
And to my mind revealed the Christ 
Like an effulgent sea. 

"No creature in this world can know 

The way Thou leadest me 
Through storms and pangs and lonely griefs, 
From self out into Thee. 

"Dear peaceful Spirit, Thou hast borne 

My sad heart far away 
Into a gulf of tender love, 
Which melts it day by day. 

"Blest Holy Ghost to me Thou art 

A boundless crystal sea, 
And I can lose all loneliness 
When all alone with Thee. 

"I have no wish in all the world 

But to be filled with Thee, 
And drink my being full of love 
From Thine immensity." 

THE PERSON OF CHRIST. 

"I've found in Thee, Lord Jesus, the satisfying part 
That quiets every longing and stills my troubled heart; 
No more in chains and bondage, Thy truth has made me 

free, 
Once dead in sins and trespass, but now alive in Thee. 

"I've found in Thee, Lord Jesus, the place of blessing 

sweet, 
Not in my selfish doing, but sitting at Thy feet; 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY 169 

And resting in Thy finished work, I find such perfect 

peace 
That every care is ended and all my labors cease. 

"Thine arms are underneath me, my times are in Thy 

hand, 
Thy strength sustains my weakness, and by Thy grace 

I stand; 
Thy smile lights up my pathway, Thy voice dispels my 

fear, 
And soon in clouds of glory, for me Thou wilt appear. 

"To Thee, Lord Jesus, Saviour, great Prophet, Priest and 

King, 
We bow in adoration, accept the praise we bring. 
Thy work has brought salvation, Thy Word assurance 

given, 
Thyself, O Perfect Person, shalt bring us safe to heaven. 

Wm. G. Carr. 

AN OFFERING OF PRAISE 
FOR SINS FORGIVEN. Col. 2: 23. 

Heavenly Father, I praise Thee that through 
Thine infinite love and Thy tender mercy, in the gift 
of Thy Beloved Son, my sins are forgiven. 

My sins are blotted out. — Isa. 43:25. 
My sins are borne by Jesus. — 1 Pe. 2 124. 
My sins are cast behind Thy back. — Isa. 38:17. 
My sins are cast into the depths of the sea. — Micah. 7:18, 
19. 
My sins are covered. — Ps. 32:1. 
My sins are not imputed. — Ro. 4:8. 
My sins are not remembered. — Heb. 8:12. 
My sins are put away. — Heb. 1 :3 ; 9 '.26. 



170 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

My sins are remitted. — Acts 10:43; Lev. 16:21, 22. 
My sins are removed. — Ps. 103:12. 
My sins are washed away by the blood of Jesus. — 1 
John 1 7 ; Rev. 1 15. Amen. 

PRAISE FOR RECOVERY FROM SICKNESS. 

Heavenly Father, we thank Thee that Thou 
hast been mindful of our prayer, that Thou hast so 
graciously turned our sorrow into joy, and hast 
restored us to health. 

Continue Thy mercy. May cheerfulness of 
spirit and vigor of mind, and strength of body be 
daily granted. May the lesson learned in the ill- 
ness be remembered and any occasion for a new 
attack be warded off. 

We bless Thy Holy Name for all Thy good- 
ness, for all the way in which Thou dost lead and 
for all Thou are doing day by day. 

May the remembrance of Thy great goodness 
make us humble, holy, obedient and full of praise. 

We ask it all in the name of our Redeemer, 
who forgiveth all iniquities, healeth all our diseases, 
redeems our life from destruction and crowns us 
with loving kindness and tender mercies, and sat- 
isfieth our mouth with good things. Amen. 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY 171 



CHAPTER XVI. 



PERSONAL PRAYERS. 



PRAYER OF FENELON. 

"Lord, take my heart, for I cannot give it; and when 
Thou hast it; oh, keep it, for I cannot keep it for Thee; 
and save me, in spite of myself, for Jesus Christ's sake." 
Amen. 

PRAYER OF MARTIN LUTHER. 

"God bless our going out, nor less 
Our coming in, and make them sure ; 
God bless our daily bread, and bless 
Whate'er we do — whate'er endure; 
In death unto His peace awake us, 
And heirs of His salvation make us." Amen. 

PRAYER FREQUENTLY OFFERED BY 

JOHN QUINCY ADAMS. 

"Help us, O Lord, with patient love to bear 

Each other's faults ; to suffer with true meekness ; 
Help us each other's joys and griefs to share, 

But let us turn to Thee alone in weakness." Amen. 

"THINE IS THE POWER, O LORD!" 
THOMAS EL WOOD, A. D., 1639. 

"Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door 
of my lips." Ps. 141 '.3. 

"O that mine eyes might closed be 
To what concerns me not to see; 



IJ2 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

That deafness might possess mine ear 
To what concerns me not to hear; 
That truth my tongue might always tie 
From ever speaking foolishly; 
That no vain thought might ever rest 
Or be conceived within my breast; 
That by each deed and word and thought, 
Glory may to my God be brought! 
But what are wishes ! Lord, mine eye 
On Thee is fixed, to Thee I cry! 
Wash, Lord, and purify my heart, 
And make it clean in every part; 
And when 'tis clean, Lord, keep it too, 
For that is more than I can do." Amen. 

INVOCATION— LIFE AND LIGHT.— A. P. ADAMS. 
"O Thou Father of lights, in Thee we live and move 
and have our being. Thou art our Home; our dwelling 
is the secret place of the Most High; we abide under the 
shadow of the Almighty; our refuge is Jehovah. We 
praise Thee that no evil shall befall those who truly trust 
Thee, nor shall they be afaid; for Thou has set Thy love 
upon them, and they have tnown Thy name. O Thou 
Sovereign of Life, Thou art the fountain of life, Thy 
universe is flooded with life, all space is full of life, for 
Thou who fillest all things art Thyself life, as Thou art 
Light and Love. We drink of Thine infinite fulness and, 
behold, we live; and that Life is our Light forevermore." 
Amen. 

ST. PATRICK'S INVOCATION AS HE ENTERED 
UPON HIS WORK FOR THE CONVERSION 
OF IRELAND. 

"May the strength of God pilot me; 
May the power of God preserve me; 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY I73 

May the wisdom of God instruct me; 

May the eye of God view me; 

May the ear of God hear me; 

May the word of God make me eloquent; 

May the hand of God protect me. 

May the way of God direct me. 

May the shield of God defend me. 

Christ be with me ; 

Christ on my right hand. 

Christ on my left hand, 

Christ in the hearts of all to whom I speak, 

Christ in the mouths of all who speak to me, 

Christ in the eyes of all who see me, 

Christ in the ears of all who hear me." Amen. 

PRAYER OF ST. CHRYSOSTOM. 

"Almighty God, who hast given us grace at this time 
with one accord to make our common supplications unto 
Thee; and dost promise that when two or three are 
gathered together in Thy Name, Thou wilt grant their 
requests ; fulfill now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of 
Thy servants, as may be most expedient for them ; granting 
us in this world knowledge of Thy truth, and in the world 
to come life everlasting." Amen. 

A MOTHER'S PRAYER— 
WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT. 

"Starting forth on life's rough way, 
Father, guide them; 
O ! we know not what of harm 

May betide them; 
'Neath the shadow of Thy wing, 

Father, hide them; 
Waking, sleeping, Lord, we pray, 
Go beside them. 



174 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

"When in prayer they cry to Thee, 

Do Thou hear them; 

From the stains of sin and shame 

Do Thou clear them: 

'Mid the quicksands and the rocks, 

Do Thou steer them; 

In temptation, trial, grief, 

Be Thou near them. 

"Unto Thee we give them up, 

Lord, receive them ; 
In the world we know must be 

Much to grieve them — 
Many striving oft and strong 

To deceive them; 
Trustful in Thy hands of love 

We must leave them." Amen. 

A PRAYER— PJIO££E GARY, 

"I ask not for wealth, but power to take 

And use the things I have aright; 
Not years, but wisdom that shall make 

My life a profit and delight. 

"I ask not that for me, the plan 
Of good and ill be set aside; 
But that the common lot of man 
Be nobly borne and glorified. 

"I do not ask for love below, 

That friends shall never be estranged; 
But for the power of loving, so 
My heart may keep its youth unchanged. ,, Amen. 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY 1/5 

A PRAYER— CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA, 

"Fisher of men, the Blest, 
Out of the world's unrest, 
Out of sin's troubled sea, 
Take us, dear Lord, to Thee." Amen. 



A PRAYER FOR CHILDREN— JEREMY TA YLOR. 
"Bless my children with healthful bodies, with good 
understandings, with the gifts and graces of Thy Spirit, 
with sweet dispositions and holy habits, and sanctify them 
throughout in their spirits and souls and bodies, and keep 
them unblamable to the coming of the Lord Jesus." Amen. 

PRAYER FOR GRACE— BISHOP ANDREWS. (167s) 

"Lord, I will lift up my hands to Thy com- 
mandments, which I have loved; open Thou mine 
eyes, that I may see wondrous things of Thy law. 
Incline my heart to Thy testimonies ; order my steps 
according to Thy word, and so shall no iniquity 
have dominion over me. 

"Concerning Thy testimonies, I have known 
long since that Thou hast founded them for ever. 
Therefore will I walk in the path of Thy command- 
ments, and will apply my heart to fulfill Thy stat- 
utes alway, even unto the end. 

"O Lord God, be Thou my God, let me have 
none besides Thee; let me love nothing in com- 
parison of Thee. 

"Grant me grace to worship Thee in spirit and 
in truth, to reverence Thy Holy Name, to serve 
Thee devoutly and decently with the gestures of my 



I76 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

body, with the praises of my tongue, in private and 
in public. 

"To render my superiors due honor by obeying 
their commands, by submitting to their govern- 
ment ; to love my family and dependants, by taking 
due care of them, by making provision for them: 

"To overcome evil with good; and to possess 
my vessel in sanctification and honor: 

"To have my conversation without covetous- 
ness, and be content with such things as I have: 

"To put away lying, bitterness, clamour, and 
evil-speaking, and all malice ; and to speak the truth 
in love : 

"Not to lust with concupiscence, not to walk 
with lasciviousness, not to be captivated with de- 
sires inordinate and violent, of what sort soever 
they may be." Amen. 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY Iff 



CHAPTER XVII. 



OTHERS. 



FOR "ALL MEN." I Tim. 2: 1. 

"O ThQu Helper of the helpless, our seasonable 
refuge in the time of trouble, remember all that lie 
under any sort of extremity, and call upon Thee for 
succor and protection. 

"O Thou who art the God of grace and truth, 
establish and strengthen in Thy truth them that 
stand ; restore the weak, and raise up them that fall 
through heresies and sins. 

"Thou, who art the wholesome defence and 
strength of thine anointed, think upon the congre- 
gation which Thou hast purchased and redeemed of 
old : and let the multitude of them that believe be 
of one heart, and of one soul. 

"Send forth, we pray Thee, O Lord of the har- 
vest, laborers in all points fitted by Thy grace to do 
the work of that harvest. 

"Thou, who art the portion of them that wait 
at Thine altar, grant that Thy clergy may always be 
enabled rightly to divine, and uprightly to walk in, 
the word of Thy truth; and let Thy people always 



178 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

be ready, with meek heart and due reverence, to 
receive the same at their mouths. 

"O Thou great King over all the earth, 
strengthen and support the several governing pow- 
ers, as being thine own ordinance, though man's 
convenience and contrivance. Scatter the nations 
that delight in blood; and command wars to cease 
in all the world. 

"Grant that all persons of eminence and author- 
ity may be eminent for virtue and sincere regard to 
Thy true religion. Fill all our councillors with 
godly wisdom. Guide Thou our judges and mag- 
istrates in the administration of justice to all persons 
and in all causes, without preferring one before an- 
other, or doing anything by partiality. 

"O Lord of hosts and God of battles, 
strengthen, protect and prosper all Christian forces 
engaged against the enemies of our most holy faith. 

"Give all people grace to live in subjection to 
the higher powers, not only for wrath, but also for 
conscience sake. 

"Bless our husbandmen with fruitful seasons, 
our fleets with favorable winds, our merchants with 
successful voyages, our tradesmen with a spirit of 
honesty and contentment ; our artificers, even to the 
meanest, even to the poorest among us, with grace 
to follow their respective labors diligently and 
patiently, for fair and reasonable profit, and in 
humble dependence upon Thy blessing. 

"O Thou who hast pronounced that man worse 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY 179 

than an infidel, who is regardless of his own house- 
hold, behold with Thy favor every person belonging 
to this family; yea, let Thy peace rest upon my 
whole house, and let the Son of Peace ever dwell 
in it. 

"O Thou, who acceptest the intercessions which 
Thy servants offer up for each other, remember, for 
good, as well all those who recommend me in their 
prayers, as those whom I have promised to rec- 
commend in my prayers ; and all who have no friend 
to entreat for them particularly. 

"O Thou Searcher and Knowerof hearts, who 
acceptest the will for the deed, be gracious to all 
them who, through just and necessary hindrances, 
do not pay Thee public homage and service this day ; 
to all whom importunity of business makes less fre- 
quent in the public or private worship of Thee than 
they desire or endeavor to be ; let all these, O Lord, 
partake of Thy favor and bounty, as if they had 
often and actually prayed. 

"Soften and convert those hardened, foolish 
hearts, w r ho through ignorance or prejudice con- 
temn Thy word and ordinances ; who deride Thy 
holy religion, and wilfully forbear and refuse to 
pray ; give them a sorrowful sense of this evil heart 
of unbelief and preserve others from the infection of 
such pestilent examples. 

"Arise, O Lord, and have mercy on all that are 
in extremity; and may Thy pity to these be the 
same as I would wish it to myself under the like 
extremity. 



l8o PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

"I entreat Thee, gracious Lord, to look down 
on all ages and conditions of men; sucklings and 
infants, children and young people, middle-aged 
and declining, old and bed-rid, the hungry and 
thirsty, the naked and sick, prisoners and strangers, 
those that have no settled dwelling while they live, 
and those who are destitute of friends to bury them 
when they die : all of superannuated understanding, 
of discontented or disturbed minds: all who labor 
under any temptation to destroy themselves, who 
are vexed with evil spirits, or driven to despair of 
Thy mercy ; the distressed in body or soul, the tim- 
orous or faint-hearted, the criminals and condemned 
to die, orphans and widows, travelers by land or 
by water, women laboring with child, captives and 
slaves, in chains, in the mines, or in the galleys ; all 
that wander about in caves and deserts, and all that 
lie expiring in the agonies of death. 

"Finally, OLord, I commit to Thy custody and 
protection, now, henceforth, and for ever, my soul 
and my body, my mind and my thoughts, my 
prayers and all my desires, my senses and my limbs, 
my brothers and sisters, my kindred and friends, 
my benefactors and intercessors, my neighbors and 
acquaintances, my countrymen, and all my fellow 
Christians. " Amen. 

PARENTS FOR CHILDREN. 

"Blessed Lord God! we bow before Thee in 
deep humility. We desire to feel more deeply the 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY l8l 

terrible power of sin in ourselves and in our chil- 
dren, and the danger to which it exposes our beloved 
home. We come to confess how far as parents we 
have come short in that pure and holy love which 
Thou didst mean to be the beauty and the blessed- 
ness of the family life. In our intercourse with 
Thee, and each other, and our children, and our 
fellow-men — O God, forgive us the want of love! 
And, oh! let not our children suffer through us, 
as they grow up in our likeness. Deliver us, we 
pray Thee, from the power of selfishness, and shed, 
oh ! shed abroad Thy love in our hearts by Thy 
Holy Spirit. 

"And teach us to realize fully what this parental 
faithfulness is which Thou dost ask of us. We 
would make this the one object of our home life, to 
train a seed to serve Thee. By our life, by our 
words, by our prayers, by gentleness and love, by 
authority and command, we would lead them in the 
way of the Lord. O God ! be Thou our helper. 

"And, O God ! bless our children with the spirit 
of love. Give us so to walk before them in love, 
that Thy Spirit may use our example and our like- 
ness to form them to Thy Holy Likeness. Give us 
a deep sense of our holy calling to train their im- 
mortal spirits for Thee and Thy glory. Inspire us 
with faith, with patience, with wisdom to train them 
aright. Oh, that our home on earth might be to 
them the pathway, and the gate, to the Father's 
home in heaven ! 



l82 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

"Blessed Father! let us and our children be 
thine wholly and forever." Amen. 

A MOTHER FOR AN ONLY SON. 

Dear Heavenly Father, I thank Thee for my 
only boy. I thank Thee for the love Thou hast 
given me for Him, and for the love Thou hast given 
him for me. I thank Thee for the care of him be- 
cause it has helped me to understand how Thou 
dost care for me and remember all my wants. 

Help me to so live that I may lead him to Thee 
and make real to him the joy of Thy presence. 

Guide me every day in my hopes and plans for 
him, and make me strong to put away all that is 
worldly and false. 

Be with him that he may feel the sunshine of 
Thy love and know the blessedness of loving Thee. 

May he be a soldier of the cross, faithful and 
true, and hear Thee say, when this life is over, 
"Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the 
joy of thy Lord." Amen. 

A MOTHER FOR AN ONLY DAUGHTER. 

"O Thou great and holy Creator of men ! Thou 
hast placed me in the wondrous relation of parent 
with child owing its life to me. Thou wouldst give 
me, too, the happiness of living a life of love, the 
Divine joy of loving and being loved. Thou hast 
placed me, too, in a home which is to be the image 
of the home in heaven, where the Father and the 
Son dwell in everlasting love. 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY 183 

"O my God ! I humbly confess that I utter these 
words with shame. How little have the perfect love 
and joy, the purity and brightness of heaven, been 
reflected in the home given to my charge ! How lit- 
tle I have even understood my calling, or truly 
aimed at the high ideal Thou hast set before me! 
Father, forgive me, for Jesus' sake. 

1 'And hear me when I beseechThee to guide my 
meditations, and to help me in the study of Thy 
Holy Word, that I may learn more fully to realize 
what Thy purpose is with the motherhood of this 
earth, and with what interest and love Thou lookest 
on each home given up to Thy protection and guid- 
ance. 

"Blessed God ! give me wisdom and grace to be 
such a mother as Thou wouldst have. I see how 
Thou sufferest not any other to usurp the parent's 
place. Lord! teach me to take home the lessons 
which Thou seest I need to fit me for my work. 

"Fill my heart with Thy love and Thy word. 
O Lord ! love knows of no sacrifice ; it counts noth- 
ing a burden: love rests not till it has triumphed. 
Oh, fill me with Thy love; shed it abroad in my 
heart by the Holy Spirit ; and fill me with Thy word 
dwelling richly in me, and teaching my child will 
be the spontaneous overflowing of the heart's ful- 
ness. And make me diligent and wise in studying 
to do my work well, to sharpen Thy words deep 
into my child's heart. And make me persevering, 
day by day, and all the day, walking in Thy love and 



184 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP, 

presence, and making my whole life an influence 
educating my child for Thee." 

Father, help me for Jesus' sake. Amen. 

A MOTHER FOR HER NEW-BORN BABY. 

Heavenly Father, I adore Thee that Thou hast 
counted me worthy to give birth to a babe, and hast 
honored me with the privilege of training a child for 
Thee. 

May I be an ideal mother according to God's 
thought of perfect motherhood. May I always be 
patient and never speak a harsh, unkind, unloving 
word to my child. 

May I be faithful yet gentle in correcting every 
fault and thoughtful in encouraging every virtue. 
May I teach this little one to be obedient, kind, po- 
lite, reverent, quiet and in all things and in all ways 
to follow the example of the holy child Jesus. 

Make me an example of obedience, submission, 
gentleness, and sweetness as a wife, that my child 
may learn to reverence me as I reverence her (or 
his) father, and so we all give Thee, O Heavenly 
Father, the obedience and reverence which is Thy 
due. 

Make me faithful in praying with my baby as 
well as for my baby every single day of our lives as 
long as Thou dost spare us to each other. 

For Jesus' sake I ask it. Amen. 



PRIVATE DEVOTION., PERSONAL MINISTRY 185 

FOR " ENEMIES." Mat. 5: 44. 

O Thou, who hast directed us to overcome evil 
with good, and hast expressly commanded our 
prayers for them that persecute us, and despitefully 
use us, pardon and bless all that speak evil of me, 
all that have hated me with or without a cause: 
some of them perhaps even for my good will, for 
speaking distasteful truth or doing necessary jus- 
tice: but whatever the occasion or the offense may 
have been, which, if given on my part, I entreat 
Thee, and them, to forgive: have the same mercy, 
O Lord, on all mine enemies, as on myself: and 
bring them, I beseech Thee, to Thy heavenly king- 
dom, as I hope and pray Thou wilt at length bring 
me. Amen. 

FOR SAILORS. 

"Our Heavenly Father, we beseech Thee now 
in behalf of those 'who go down to the sea in ships 
and who occupy their business in great waters/ 
May they, seeing the great works of the Lord, and 
His wonders in the deep, adore and praise Him 
who is the maker of them all. May they call upon 
Thy name and seek Thy help in danger, and remem- 
ber to give thanks unto Thee in time of safety. 

"O God, we beseech Thee, make them a godly 
class of men, who shall love and fear and serve Thee. 
And may those who go from Christian to heathen 
ports testify in Thy name, and carry the glad tidings 
of Him who came and died to save the world. 



l86 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

"Crown with success, we pray Thee, the efforts 
of every society, in each harbor, who strive to make 
the sailors' reading-room attractive and pleasant to 
them, and may the Christian influences thus thrown 
around them be the means of bringing many of 
them to Thee. 

"And at last, most merciful God, bring us all 
safely into the Heavenly Haven. We ask it for 
Christ's sake. " Amen. 

FOR SOLDIERS. 

Our Heavenly Father, we look to Thee in be- 
half of those who have left home and friends and 
comforts for the service of their country and for the 
field of battle. Teach the Christian men through 
their discipline in the army how to be true soldiers 
of the cross. Show them that there must be in their 
spiritual lives the unconditional surrender, the 
unquestioning obedience, the unfaltering trust, 
the unflinching courage which characterizes the 
true soldier. 

Bless those at the head of the regiments. May- 
each officer be a man of integrity, honor, honesty, 
purity and temperance; leading their men not only 
in the battles against the material enemies they have 
to fight, but against the evil forces that menace the 
spiritual life. 

May each officer be an example to his men of a 
true soldier of Jesus Christ. 

Bless any that are homesick and heartsick. 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY 187 

Bless any who are ill and who suffer from want of 
the comforts to which they have been accustomed. 

Bless the Chaplain of each regiment as he min- 
isters to his men in Divine Things. May each be 
a man of God who lives a separated life, so that when 
the soldiers are ill, troubled or dying they will be 
glad to have him come to them and he will be able 
to comfort them and point them to the Lamb of 
God who taketh away the sins of the world. 

Comfort the dying with the consolations of Di- 
vine love and forgiveness. 

Bless us all and hasten the time w T hen "they 
shall beat their swords into plowshares and their 
spears into pruninghooks : nation shall not rise 
against nation, neither shall they learn war any 
more." Amen. 

FOR POLICEMEN. 

Heavenly Father, we ask Thee in Jesus' name to 
bless those who guard our homes and property in 
summer's heat and winter's cold. 

Bless any service that is held for them in Thy 
name. 

May every Christian man on the force feel his 
responsibility to be a true man all the more because 
surrounded perhaps by men who are in league with 
all that is evil. 

Make up to those who love the Lord's day, yet 
are kept from its worship. May they think of Thy 
faithfulness as they walk their beats, in the lonely 



l88 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP, 

nights. May the consciousness of Thy presence 
compensate them for all loss. 

Make the timid young Christian policeman true 
in the face of ridicule or persecution. Make them 
patient under provocation, honest in the midst of 
corruption, true in the courts of justice, and faith- 
ful in the performance of every duty. 

We ask it all in Jesus' name for Jesus' sake. 
Amen. 

FOR CHRISTIAN WORKERS. 

Holy Father, Thou who dost bid us to pray al- 
ways with all prayer and supplication for all saints, 
we trustingly ask Thee to keep through Thine own 
name, those whom Thou hast given to Christ, that 
they may be one, as Thou Father, art one with the 
Son. 

Sanctify them through Thy truth, that they may 
be one in Thee and in Thy blessed Son; that the 
world may believe that Thou didst send Jesus, and 
that the saints may know that Thou hast loved them 
as Thou hast loved Christ. 

O righteous Father, grant that the love where- 
with Thou hast loved Christ may be constantly in 
them, and Christ in them the hope of glory. 

Bless all the ministers of Thy gospel in this and 
every land. May they rightly divide the Word of 
truth; may they be ensamples to the flock; real 
Shepherds of the Sheep, constantly looking to the 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY 189 

Great Shepherd that He will make them perfect in 
every good word and work to do His will. 

Remember, oh, Holy Father, all the mission- 
aries in every land. Protect them by Thine Al- 
mighty power, encourage them in the mighty bat- 
tle against sin and Satan; enable them to push the 
Word of God with boldness, and to trust in Thy lov- 
ing and tender care. 

Bless all teachers in all our institutions of learn- 
ing, in every college, every Bible institute, every 
seminary, every day school and Sunday school, 
every Mission School, every institution where men 
and women or boys and girls are taught. May 
their instructors realize their responsibility, and 
keep low at the feet of the Great Teacher, and be 
shining lights to those who walk in their footsteps. 

May all leaders be ensamples of Christ to those 
who follow them; may all Christian writers feel 
their responsibility to send out true, pure Christ-in- 
structing literature. May all who work in Jesus' 
name in every land be blessed to-day because we 
pray. 

We ask it for Jesus' sake. Amen. 

FOR A DYING SINNER. 

Most gracious God, Thou who didst so love the 
world as to give Thine only begotten Son that who- 
soever believed in Thee should not perish but have 
everlasting life, we humbly beseech Thee to look 
with divine pity upon the one so soon to be ushered 
into Thy presence. 



I90 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

For the sake of Thine own beloved Son, who 
came to earth that we might go to heaven, who lay 
in a manger, that we might live in a mansion, who 
suffered the just for the unjust, that He might bring 
us to God. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. 

By His death for the sinner Divine Justice was 
satisfied and the world redeemed from the curse. 

May the one passing through the valley of the 
shadow cling in faith to the fact that as Moses lifted 
up the serpent in the wilderness, even so was the Son 
of man lifted up for the sins of the world. 

He was wounded for our transgressions; he 
was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of 
our peace was upon Him and with His stripes are we 
healed. 

Just now we ask Thee that this suffering soul 
may trust in the merits of his crucified Redeemer, 
and accept Him whom they called Jesus, because 
He should save His people from their sins. 

May he know peace with God, the conscious- 
ness of forgiveness, and the joy of acceptance, and 
may he quietly surrender his spirit to God who 
gave it. 

We ask and believe for it in Jesus' name. 
Amen. 

PRAYER FOR A DYING SAINT. 

We commend to Thy tender love and care, most 
gracious Father, the one who lies so near to the 
gate of death. 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY I9I 

Take away all pain. Though consciousness of 
earthly things is receding, may consciousness of 
divine things be vivid and glorious. 

May there be a sweet realizing sense of divine 
forgiveness, a resting in the merits of the precious 
Lamb of God, slain to take away the sins of the 
world. 

May the spirit of the departed one be received 
and preserved unto the coming of the Lord Jesus 
Christ with all His saints. Amen. 

A BURIAL AT SEA. 

Oh, Thou Almighty Father, who art saying to- 
day, "I have loved thee with an everlasting love, 
therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee." 

Oh, Thou loving Christ, who art saying to-day, 
"As many as I tenderly love I rebuke and chasten." 

Oh, Thou sympathizing Holy Spirit, whose 
name is the Comforter, we bring to Thee the 
stricken friends who this day lay their loved one out 
of their sight. 

Be to them, oh, Jehovah, the Almighty God, the 
loving Friend, the Holy Comforter that Thou art. 

So fill them, so sustain them, so comfort them, 
so hold them close in Thy tender embrace, that in- 
stead of pain there shall be peace; and instead of 
self-pity there shall be spiritual praise. 

Keep them from looking back, thinking what 
they might have done better or different and regret- 
ting what was done; keep them from looking sor- 



192 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

rowfully forward in awful agony thinking of what 
might have been had the dear one lived. 

May they remember that "whom the Lord 
loveth He chasteneth," and "no chastening for the 
present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous ; never- 
theless afterwards it yieldeth the peaceable fruits 
of righteousness unto them which are exercised 
thereby." 

Turn the curse into a blessing unto them be- 
cause Thou dost love them. 

Hear us in Jesus' name for Jesus' sake. Amen. 

A PASTOR DEDICATING A BABE TO GOD. 

"Our Heavenly Father, we come as pastor and 
people, with these parents, to dedicate this little one 
to Thee, for of such is the kingdom of heaven. 

"And as these parents consecrate to Thee what 
Thou hast given to them, we humbly entreat Thee 
to give them wisdom to train the child for Thee. 
Open their eyes to see the treasures of wisdom in 
Thy Holy Word, in promise and instruction to 
parents and children. Especially reveal Thyself to 
them, we beseech Thee, as the God of the covenant 
and the promise, the parent's God, whose name is 
Wonderful. Teach them in holy fear and rever- 
ence, in childlike trust and joy, in purity of life and 
separation from the world, to walk before Thee, and 
to love the child with a holy love, and to train it for 
the service of Thy temple. Teach them to speak to 
it of Thee and Thy love so that its heart may early 
be won for Thee, 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY I93 

"May their whole life be to it an inspiration, in- 
viting and helping the child to what is pure and 
lovely, to what is holy and well pleasing to Thee. 

"Let the thought of Thy command to rule their 
home, of Thy judgment on disobedience, of Thy 
promised grace to those who give themselves to 
obey, of Thy blessing on a home ordered in Thy 
fear, stir them to fulfil their holy calling in Thy 
fear. And let them, above all, believe that as they 
and their children in this fulfil Thy will, they are 
in the path of true blessing for this life and the life 
to come." Amen. 

A PASTOR AT A WEDDING. 

Our Father who art in heaven, look down in 
love and tenderness upon these two lives who this 
hour are made one. 

May their love for each other be so unworldly, 
so unselfish, that it may draw them closer to Thee 
and to all about them who need the loving ministry 
their united lives can give. 

May the wife give the husband his place as the 
head, and reverence and obey him as Thou has 
commanded. 

May he love and shield and watch over her as 
Christ, his pattern, loves and shields and watches 
over His church. 

May they be true to each other in time of trial ; 
tender to each other in time of temptation or sin; 



194 PRAYERS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP 

loving each other all the way, all the days, until the 
summons shall come to join their Lord. 
For Jesus' sake. Amen. 

PRAYER IN AFFLICTION. 

' 'Almighty God, Thou dost, by Thy Son Jesus 
Christ, take away the sin of the world. Thou dost 
not cleanse the outside, Thou dost purify the inmost 
life. Out of renewed and sanctified motive Thou 
dost bring pure and noble conduct. 

" Who but Thyself, Thou Christ of God, could 
lift the load ? What power but Thine could dispel the 
cloud ? We cannot take away sin ; but the blood of 
Jesus Christ the Son of God taketh away all sin. 
We cast our sins on Jesus. We do not understand 
His love, but we answer it with tears, faith and 
sacred hope. We have hewn out unto ourselves 
cisterns — broken cisterns — that could hold no water, 
and we have attempted to build towers that should 
reach even unto heaven. But we stand before Thee 
now, convicted, burning with shame, having utterly 
failed to do the thing which we set our hand to ac- 
complish. Thou dost teach us in many ways; by 
fear, by poverty, by joy, by wealth; and by all the 
ministry of life, Thou art teaching us the holy truth, 
and shedding upon us the upper light, and drawing 
us more nearly to Thyself. Being in a school, may 
we not forget the lesson. Having an opportunity 
of learning wisdom, may we not live as foolish men. 
May we know the rod, and Him who hath appointed 



PRIVATE DEVOTION, PERSONAL MINISTRY I95 

it. Enable us to kiss the chastening hand. Lift 
upon us the light of Thy countenance, and our tears 
shall be beautiful. Take not Thy Holy Spirit from 
us in the night of sorrow, suffering, disappointment, 
and pain. Sanctify to us all trouble, distress, and 
fear, and sadness, and death. Work before our eyes 
this wondrous mystery. Show us how Thou dost 
bring beauty out of that which is unbeautif ul ; how 
the morning rises upon the night, and how summer 
comes swiftly after winter. Thus may we have 
hope, through Christ, in the living God. Teach us 
that all things work together for good to them that 
love Thee. When the cup is very bitter, may we 
drink it in Thy strength, and becauseThou hast given 
it unto us. Teach us to bring all prayers into one, 
saying, with full hearts, with unbroken, ever-hoping 
trust, "Not my will, but Thine be done. " In that 
spirit there is triumph ; in that faith there is no over- 
throw. Lord, increase our faith. Then from the 
place of darkness shall we see the stars. In the night- 
time of solitude shall we have angel-like companion- 
ship, and up the steep hill we shall feel the sustain- 
ing hand of God." Amen. 



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